Teamwork: relevance and interdependence of interprofessional education

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Primary Health Care
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is vital for preparing healthcare professionals.
• Effective teamwork in primary care enhances patient outcomes.
• Understanding student perceptions of IPE is key to curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess university students' perceptions of interprofessional and interdependent teamwork.
• To evaluate the perceived importance of interprofessional collaboration in primary care settings.
• To identify gaps in academic preparation for interprofessional practice.

Main Methods:

• An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted.
• A probabilistic, stratified random sample of 704 university students in Santiago, Chile, was recruited.
• Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on perceptions of interprofessional work.

Main Results:

• 97.8% of students recognized the importance of interprofessional work.
• 27.1% of students felt their study plans did not emphasize interprofessional collaboration.
• Physicians and nurses were identified as the most crucial team members.

Conclusions:

• Developing interprofessional competencies requires dedicated spaces and institutional backing.
• Integrating interprofessional education across academic units is essential for its promotion.
• Effective teamwork in healthcare remains a significant area for improvement.