Mapping student perceptions of experiential interprofessional learning to the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies

Introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) provide opportunities for interprofessional education (IPE) in doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs by facilitating student engagement with other healthcare professionals. It is unknown how well these experiences align with competencies required for interprofessional collaborative practice. This study describes the alignment of student reflections from experiential rotations with the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies.

Following completion of experiential rotations from June 2017 to August 2019, a retrospective analysis of IPE surveys submitted by students was performed to assess types of interprofessional interactions and alignment of student reflections with IPEC competencies.

A total of 1360 surveys were analyzed. More than 75% of all PharmD students enrolled in IPPEs or APPEs during the study period completed at least one survey. Across all experiences, survey responses mapped to IPEC competencies at the following rates: Values/Ethics (25%), Roles/Responsibilities (48%), Interprofessional Communication (36%), and Teams/Teamwork (48%). More reflections from inpatient experiences, compared to outpatient experiences, aligned with Roles/Responsibilities and Teams/Teamwork, while fewer inpatient experience reflections aligned with Interprofessional Communication. Active engagement with other health professions increased as students progressed from IPPEs to APPEs.

As PharmD students progress through the experiential curriculum, they engage with IPEC competencies during each professional year. Inpatient and outpatient experiences may highlight different aspects of the IPEC competencies and advanced rotations are more likely to facilitate active engagement with other healthcare professionals.