Reflecting on reflection in interprofessional education: implications for theory and practice.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professions Education
• Interprofessional Learning

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for developing teamwork and interprofessional practice (IPP) skills.
• Effective learning within IPE necessitates reflection, yet educators require deeper understanding of 'reflection on reflection'.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey and refine the multidimensional concept of reflection within the context of IPE.
• To explore methods promoting reflection for enhanced learning in teamwork and IPP.
• To provide recommendations for educational practice and research in IPE reflection.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of reflection in IPE.
• Conceptual definition and refinement of reflection for IPE.
• Exploration of specific reflective methods: self-assessments, journaling, written papers.
• Analysis of student work samples to demonstrate impact on reflection and learning.

Main Results:

• Identified specific methods that effectively promote reflection in IPE participants.
• Demonstrated through student examples the positive impact of these methods on learning.
• Provided a refined conceptual understanding of reflection tailored for IPE.

Conclusions:

• Educators must prioritize 'reflection on reflection' to optimize IPE learning outcomes.
• Utilizing diverse methods like journaling and self-assessment can significantly enhance participant reflection.
• Further research and practice are needed to expand the application of reflection in IPE.