Training the trainers: A preceptor development program targeting interprofessional collaboration competencies

Faculty and preceptor development have been noted to be areas of need within the expansion of interprofessional education (IPE). The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of a preceptor development program on pharmacy preceptors' self-reported competence toward interprofessional collaboration.

Pharmacy preceptors were invited to participate in a two-hour preceptor development program followed by a brief survey. Preceptor development program objectives were to: define IPE and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP); describe the benefits of IPCP for patients/clients, healthcare providers, and health systems; discuss the four Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies; and describe IPE student experiences aimed at increasing collaborative practice. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS) was administered after the preceptor development program. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data and paired t-tests were used to analyze pre-/post-program scores.

Thirty (35%) preceptors completed the survey. Mean scores for all twenty items in the ICCAS instrument increased from pre- to post-(p < 0.05). The mean total ICCAS score pre- was 5.28 ± 1.12 and post- was 6.17 ± 1.11 (p < 0.01) out of a possible total score of seven.

A preceptor development program targeting IPE and IPCP increased pharmacy preceptors' self-reported competence toward interprofessional collaboration.