Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Training Beyond the Classroom
The IPE curriculum at Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) is one of the most comprehensive in the United States and involves first and second-year students across nine disciplines coming together to learn with, from, and about one another in a curriculum guided by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative’s (IPEC) competency framework. In a continued effort to evaluate the short-, intermediate-, and long-term impacts of the IPE program, this study expanded existing assessment strategies to measure important program outcomes across all years of study, including third and fourth-year students. Specifically, this study gathered invaluable student perspectives on the effectiveness of the existing IPE courses in preparing students for future practice, determining what, if any, opportunities students are given to collaborate with other health professionals beyond the didactic curriculum. The preliminary results of this survey highlight an increased level of preparedness for working in an interprofessional clinical setting due to a better understanding of professions’ scopes of practice and shared goals. These students noted a greater appreciation and level of trust between themselves and other professions, making them more willing to interact with other members of the healthcare team in practice. Many students wished for more hands-on and in-person activities with other professions or built-in opportunities to work with other professions during preclinical and clinical years. Very few students were given opportunities to shadow other professions throughout their schooling at Western, highlighting a possible area for improvement. It is our hope that this project will inform IPE curriculum development, improvement, and future research efforts examining the effectiveness of specific interprofessional training initiatives, including shadowing, team-based discussions, and interactive workshops.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.