Building and expanding interprofessional teaching teams

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Team Development in Academia

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for preparing healthcare professionals for team-based practice.
• A university-based IPE program initiated in 2011 has seen parallel development of its interprofessional teaching team.
• Understanding this team's growth can inform future interprofessional education initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolution of a university interprofessional teaching team over four years.
• To identify key factors influencing the development of interprofessional educators and teams.
• To provide insights for establishing and supporting similar teams in other institutions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted two semi-structured focus groups with educators in 2011 and 2014.
• Utilized Thematic Analysis to interpret focus group transcripts.
• Involved educators from dietetics, medicine, physiotherapy, and radiation therapy programs.

Main Results:

• Educators experienced initial apprehension transitioning to interprofessional teaching, with confidence growing over time.
• Team collaboration highlighted disciplinary roles and diverse teaching methodologies.
• Program expansion presented challenges but also stimulated team growth and engagement.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional teaching, though initially demanding, proves to be a rewarding experience.
• Developing interprofessional teaching skills and adapting role perspectives takes considerable time.
• Effective educator team development hinges on commitment, mutual understanding, enthusiasm, leadership, and trust.