Measuring Student Interprofessional Skills in the Roles/Responsibilities Competency

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Training
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Interprofessional collaborative practice is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) provides a framework for competency-based education.
• Assessing student understanding of IPEC competencies is vital for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate physician assistant students' perceptions and knowledge of interprofessional collaborative practice.
• To specifically assess the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Roles/Responsibilities (RR) competency.
• To determine the impact of interprofessional education experiences on student learning.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 30 physician assistant students three times during their clinical year.
• Student engagement with five different professions was measured using a 5-point Likert scale.
• An open-ended question assessed students' knowledge of other healthcare professionals' roles.

Main Results:

• Student engagement levels were highest in the first clinical semester.
• Engagement increased with two professions over the study year.
• Students provided examples of relying on other professionals' expertise during clinical rotations.

Conclusions:

• Students acquired knowledge related to two IPEC RR subcompetencies during clinical rotations.
• A disconnect exists between interprofessional education and its application in collaborative practice.
• Further research is needed to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical application.