Implementing interprofessional education and practice: Lessons from a resource-constrained university

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Practice
• Higher Education

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for collaborative practice to address complex population health needs.
• Implementation challenges include lack of a framework, operational difficulties, and insufficient human resources.
• Addressing these barriers is vital for effective IPE in resource-limited environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present lessons learned from implementing IPE activities in a resource-constrained South African higher education setting.
• To outline strategies for overcoming key challenges in IPE implementation.
• To share insights for successful IPE in similar institutional contexts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Boyer's model of scholarship (research, teaching integration, application) to establish a conceptual framework for IPE.
• Employed a scaffolding approach within the curriculum to operationalize IPE and practice.
• Implemented faculty development initiatives to build critical mass for driving IPE activities.

Main Results:

• A shared conceptual model facilitated a focused approach to IPE implementation.
• Scaffolding strategies effectively operationalized IPE within the curriculum.
• Faculty development enhanced the capacity to drive IPE and collaborative practice.

Conclusions:

• A unified conceptual model is essential for aligning human and financial resources towards common IPE goals.
• Strategic approaches like scaffolding and faculty development can overcome implementation barriers.
• Resource-constrained institutions can successfully implement IPE with appropriate frameworks and dedicated efforts.