Interprofessional education day 2019 - a qualitative participant evaluation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professions Education

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for improving healthcare collaboration and quality.
• IPE involves students from different professions learning together to enhance teamwork and communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a newly implemented interprofessional education (IPE) day for healthcare students.
• To evaluate student and lecturer experiences and identify areas for improvement in interprofessional learning.

Main Methods:

• A dedicated IPE day was designed and delivered by an interprofessional student team.
• The event included introductions, role discussions, simulated case studies, and reflection sessions.
• Qualitative data were collected through 15 semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically.

Main Results:

• Participants reported highly positive experiences, particularly valuing the inclusion of medical and pharmacy students and practical case studies.
• Students demonstrated improved interprofessional competencies, including teamwork, communication, openness, and reflectiveness.
• A strong desire for more interprofessional teaching opportunities was expressed by both students and lecturers.

Conclusions:

• The IPE day was successfully implemented, with the didactic concept proving largely effective.
• The event subjectively enhanced students' interprofessional skills, fostering appreciation for diverse professional competencies.
• Integrating IPE days into future curricula is recommended to sustain and build upon these positive outcomes.