[Interprofessional team building-An interuniversity qualification program]

With the growing number of older and old patients as well as patients affected by multimorbidity, cognitive impairments and frailty in hospital and expansion of long-term care, the challenges in the various geriatric and gerontological care settings are also increasing. Social networks and resources become fragile due to the changing family structures. A strong interprofessional team building and networking of the main actors in the nursing and healthcare systems become necessary.

A qualification program for students of medicine, social work and relevant study courses for nursing was established. In this program participants should collectively learn to deal with the concerns and needs of geriatric patients in a case-related manner and to develop suitable plans for treatment and interventions.

The qualification program for interprofessional team building was evaluated during the development phase as a pilot project and scientifically evaluated (n = 78) using the Freiburg questionnaire on interprofessional learning evaluation (FILE).

The program experienced a high level of approval by approximately 98% of the participants. The measurement of change showed an improvement in team skills and ability to work in a team.

Opening up a learning field for interprofessional learning and working to students of different disciplines and professions during their studies creates a good basis for successful interprofessional team building in the subsequent professional practice. The interuniversity and interprofessional teaching project presented is now firmly anchored in the curriculum at the participating universities with the teaching module "The geriatric patient". It is therefore a possible model for similar projects.