Developing a framework for interprofessional collaborative practice, cultural fluency, and ecological approaches to...

Area of Science:

• Health Equity
• Interprofessional Education
• Public Health Frameworks

Background:

• Health disparities persist, necessitating innovative approaches.
• Interprofessional collaborative practice and cultural humility are crucial for addressing health inequities.
• Ecological models provide a comprehensive perspective on health determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a framework for reducing health disparities.
• To identify common core competencies for health professions students.
• To select assessment instruments for measuring competency attainment.

Main Methods:

• An iterative process involving multiple stakeholders was used to develop the framework, logic model, and initiatives.
• A logic model was created to outline short, medium, and long-term activities and outcomes.
• Faculty collaborated to identify core competencies and validated assessment instruments.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive framework for reducing health disparities was developed.
• Common core competencies were identified for students across various health disciplines.
• Validated assessment instruments were selected to measure competency attainment.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework integrates interprofessional practice, cultural humility, and ecological approaches.
• The identified competencies and assessment tools provide a foundation for training future health professionals.
• Future work will focus on curriculum mapping and longitudinal assessment of competency attainment.