Providing interprofessional learning through interdisciplinary collaboration: the role of "modelling"

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Social Work Education

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is crucial for modern healthcare delivery.
• Pre-service training prepares students for effective teamwork in diverse healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of two interprofessional education methods for pre-service students.
• To determine if faculty modeling enhances interprofessional teaming skills compared to discussion and role-playing alone.

Main Methods:

• Students from nursing, physical therapy, social work, and special education participated.
• Two teaching groups were compared: (i) research discussion, faculty modeling, and role-playing; (ii) research discussion and role-playing.
• Student learning of interprofessional teaming was evaluated.

Main Results:

• Both groups demonstrated benefits from discussions and role-playing in interprofessional team meetings.
• A significant difference in learning outcomes was observed between students who experienced faculty modeling and those who did not.
• Faculty modeling appeared to enhance the effectiveness of interprofessional education.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional education incorporating faculty modeling is highly effective for pre-service students.
• Training in interprofessional collaboration is essential for preparing students for contemporary healthcare environments.
• Further research should explore optimal strategies for interprofessional team training.