Using an online case conference to facilitate interprofessional learning

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Social Care Education
• Online Learning Technologies

Background:

• Interprofessional learning (IPL) is crucial for health and social care professionals.
• Integrating IPL into educational curricula presents significant challenges.
• Existing educational models struggle to effectively foster collaboration among diverse student groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative online learning activity designed to facilitate interprofessional learning.
• To evaluate student engagement and perceptions of an online conference format for IPL.
• To explore the potential of virtual environments in addressing IPL integration challenges.

Main Methods:

• An online conference was developed within a UK Faculty of Health and Social Care.
• A real-life family case scenario was utilized in a virtual town setting.
• Students from various health and social care programs participated in asynchronous online discussions.

Main Results:

• Student evaluations of the online learning activity were generally positive.
• The virtual conference successfully brought together students from diverse professional backgrounds.
• Asynchronous discussion forums facilitated engagement with the case scenario.

Conclusions:

• Online learning activities, such as virtual conferences, show promise for facilitating interprofessional learning.
• This approach can help overcome common challenges in integrating interprofessional education.
• Further development of such online initiatives is recommended to enhance collaborative learning in health and social care.