Building Social Capital to Foster Interprofessional Education: The Interprofessional Educator Academy

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Social Sciences
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for collaborative patient care, aiming to improve teamwork and communication.
• Persistent barriers to IPE stem from a lack of understanding among healthcare professionals about other disciplines' norms and practices.
• Social capital, a collective asset from social interactions, fosters trust, innovation, and goal coordination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine Duke AHEAD (Academy for Health Professions Education and Academic Development) using social capital theory.
• To assess the potential of an interprofessional educator academy to dismantle barriers to IPE.
• To explore how enhanced IPE can ultimately improve patient care outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Duke AHEAD through the framework of social capital theory.
• Qualitative assessment of social interactions and network development within the academy.
• Evaluation of the impact of social capital on interprofessional understanding and collaboration.

Main Results:

• Duke AHEAD, viewed through social capital theory, demonstrates a viable model for fostering interprofessional understanding.
• The academy's structure facilitates the development of social capital, breaking down professional silos.
• Increased social capital correlates with improved perceptions of teamwork and communication in healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

• Social capital theory provides a valuable lens for understanding and strengthening interprofessional education initiatives.
• Interprofessional educator academies like Duke AHEAD can effectively mitigate barriers to IPE.
• Strengthening social capital within healthcare education is key to advancing collaborative practice and improving patient care.