An interprofessional course in bioethics: training for real-world dilemmas

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Bioethics
• Interprofessional Healthcare

Background:

• Healthcare professionals often train in silos, despite real-world practice requiring interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Modern healthcare presents complex ethical challenges demanding interprofessional approaches.
• Existing bioethics education may not adequately prepare students for collaborative practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of an innovative interprofessional bioethics course.
• To assess the impact of the course on students' attitudes toward interprofessional teamwork and ethical decision-making.
• To provide a model for interprofessional collaboration in health professional education.

Main Methods:

• Designed and delivered an interprofessional bioethics course with a unique mix of students and faculty.
• Employed innovative teaching strategies, refined through continuous student feedback.
• Focused on patient-centered care and appreciation of diverse professional contributions.

Main Results:

• Students reported interprofessional interactions as a highly positive aspect of the course.
• The course successfully integrated ethical decision-making with real-world case applications.
• Post-course evaluations indicated improved student attitudes towards interprofessional teamwork.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional bioethics education can effectively enhance collaboration and ethical reasoning skills.
• Innovative teaching methods and a patient-centered focus are key to successful interprofessional learning.
• This course model offers a transferable framework for other institutions to promote interprofessional collaboration.