Health hackathon as a venue for interprofessional education: a qualitative interview study

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Education
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Health hackathons facilitate collaboration between healthcare professionals and IT developers to address health challenges.
• These events represent a potential avenue for interprofessional education, fostering collaboration and skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore participants' views and experiences of the KKU mHealth Hackathon 2017 as a venue for interprofessional education.
• To identify learning experiences and factors influencing learning during the hackathon.

Main Methods:

• A phenomenological approach was employed.
• Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three faculty members and three students who participated in the hackathon.

Main Results:

• Participants reported successful collaboration within interprofessional teams.
• Learners gained appreciation for complementary professional expertise and practical problem-solving skills.
• A collegial and collaborative atmosphere was fostered, though some design improvements were suggested for future events.

Conclusions:

• Health hackathons serve as effective platforms for interprofessional education.
• Further research should focus on replicating positive learning outcomes, addressing challenges, and assessing long-term impacts.