Attitudes of dental and chiropractic students towards a shared learning programme-An interprofessional learning model

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Education
• Collaborative Healthcare

Background:

• Interprofessional learning (IPL) is foundational for interprofessional collaborative care.
• A novel IPL model was developed at the School of Dentistry, International Medical University, integrating core competencies and learning outcomes for dental and chiropractic students.
• The model is grounded in experiential learning, adult learning theories, and Miller's framework for clinical competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an interprofessional learning model for dental and chiropractic students.
• To enhance student-centered, collaborative learning experiences.
• To assess the impact of IPL on students' perceptions of professional roles, responsibilities, and teamwork.

Main Methods:

• A student-centered, collaborative program was designed for second-year dental (n=46) and fourth-year chiropractic (n=23) students.
• The program focused on preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) for dental students and assessing WMSD risk factors in dental settings for chiropractic students.
• The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) was administered pre- and post-program to gauge changes in awareness and attitudes.

Main Results:

• Both dental and chiropractic students demonstrated comparable levels of readiness for shared learning.
• The IPL program positively influenced students' perceptions of their professional identity and the roles of other healthcare professionals.
• Findings suggest an enhancement in students' attitudes towards interprofessional education and teamwork.

Conclusions:

• The study provides preliminary evidence supporting the integration of interprofessional learning experiences within the curriculum.
• The findings will inform future curriculum development to strengthen interprofessional education.
• This initiative aims to foster improved interprofessional collaborative care.