Student perceptions towards interprofessional education: Findings from a longitudinal study based in a Middle Eastern...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Interprofessional Education (IPE) is crucial for preparing health and social care students for collaborative practice.
• Existing frameworks for IPE need evaluation regarding their impact on student readiness and learning outcomes.
• The Lebanese American University Interprofessional Education (LAU IPE) Steps Framework offers a structured approach to IPE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess health and social care students' perceptions of readiness for interprofessional learning before and after the LAU IPE Steps Framework.
• To evaluate students' perceptions of interprofessional learning outcomes and overall satisfaction with the IPE experience.
• To identify any changes in readiness perceptions across genders and professions following IPE participation.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal survey design was employed, collecting data via questionnaires administered before and after each step of the IPE framework.
• Participants included health and social care students at an American university in Lebanon undergoing the LAU IPE Steps Framework.
• Data analysis focused on changes in student perceptions of readiness, learning outcomes, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Students reported generally favorable perceptions of readiness for interprofessional learning prior to the framework, with notable gender and professional differences.
• Following participation in the LAU IPE Steps Framework, students demonstrated enhanced readiness for interprofessional learning.
• Differences in readiness perceptions between genders and professions decreased post-IPE, and students were satisfied with the learning experience, meeting all learning outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The LAU IPE Steps Framework effectively enhances students' readiness for interprofessional learning and promotes greater equity across genders and professions.
• The framework leads to high student satisfaction and successful achievement of interprofessional learning outcomes.
• The LAU IPE Steps Framework serves as a valuable model for other institutions developing interprofessional education programs.