Teaching Collaboration Competencies to Healthcare Provider Students Through Simulation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is vital for reducing medical errors.
• However, interprofessional training is not widely integrated into healthcare programs.
• This study addresses the need for effective interprofessional education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a specific intervention on interprofessional students' attitudes and collaborative behaviors.
• The intervention included didactic sessions, low-fidelity simulation, and debriefing.
• The goal was to determine if attitudes and behaviors improved post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed.
• TeamSTEPPS™ Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (TAQ) scales were used for pre- and post-testing.
• Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and observations.

Main Results:

• 515 students from eight healthcare programs participated.
• Significant improvements (p<0.001) were observed in 10 out of 12 TAQ questions, indicating enhanced attitudes towards teamwork.
• Observed collaborative behaviors increased by 3-18%, and students reported improved understanding of other roles and communication.

Conclusions:

• Low-fidelity scripted simulation effectively teaches interprofessional collaboration.
• This method is cost-effective and time-efficient for large, diverse student groups.
• The intervention successfully improved both attitudes and observed behaviors crucial for interprofessional practice.