Students' readiness for and perception of Interprofessional learning: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Training
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Inter-professional Education (IPE) is vital for fostering effective collaboration in healthcare.
• High-quality patient care relies on a collaborative healthcare environment.
• This study assesses the readiness and perceptions of Inter-professional Education among College of Applied Medical Sciences (CAMS) students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the readiness of CAMS students for Inter-professional Education (IPE).
• To evaluate CAMS students' perceptions regarding Inter-professional Education (IPE).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 232 undergraduate students at CAMS in Riyadh.
• Stratified random sampling was employed for participant selection.
• Validated questionnaires, the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) and Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), were utilized.

Main Results:

• The mean score for the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) was 86.8.
• The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) yielded a mean score of 77.7.
• Significant differences in both RIPLS and IEPS scores were observed between Occupational Therapy and Respiratory Therapy programs, with higher scores in these disciplines.

Conclusions:

• CAMS students exhibit readiness for Inter-professional Education (IPE), highlighting its importance for collaborative teamwork.
• Integrating IPE early in pre-professional curricula can enhance patient care and management strategies.
• IPE is a key component in developing effective collaborative practices within healthcare programs.