Interprofessional education among student health professionals using human patient simulation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Interprofessional Practice

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is vital for preparing healthcare professionals for collaborative practice.
• Human patient simulation offers a realistic environment for training healthcare students.
• Effective communication is a cornerstone of safe and efficient patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the development and outcomes of an interprofessional education clinical laboratory.
• To assess the impact of human patient simulation on student learning and attitudes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a simulated heart failure exacerbation scenario for IPE.

Main Methods:

• Developed an interprofessional education clinical laboratory utilizing a high-fidelity patient simulator.
• Implemented a patient-care scenario involving acute exacerbation of heart failure.
• Pharmacy and nursing students collaborated in simulated clinical roles to diagnose and treat the patient.

Main Results:

• Student attitudes toward and readiness for interprofessional education significantly improved post-participation.
• Students identified enhanced communication skills as the primary benefit of the simulation experience.
• The realistic simulation facilitated collaborative learning and skill development.

Conclusions:

• Participation in the interprofessional education laboratory positively impacted students' ability to engage in IPE.
• The curricular initiative fostered improved attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration.
• Further research is recommended to evaluate the long-term impact of IPE on student learning and clinical practice.