Assessment and evaluation in interprofessional education: exploring the field

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is expanding globally, guided by Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies.
• Significant challenges persist in implementing IPE and assessing learners' collaborative skills and evaluating programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current landscape of IPE.
• To identify and disseminate best practices for IPE assessment and evaluation.
• To uncover gaps and recommend future directions for IPE assessment and evaluation.

Main Methods:

• A multi-methods approach was employed.
• Key informant interviews (n=20), a literature review, and an expert panel meeting were conducted.

Main Results:

• Existing literature shows evidence of IPE effectiveness.
• A variety of assessment and evaluation methods are utilized, often without a clear program-evaluation framework.

Conclusions:

• Advancing IPE requires robust assessment and evaluation methods.
• Standardized tools and longitudinal assessment using diverse data streams are essential.
• These advancements are necessary to align IPE with evolving clinical care systems.