Let's Learn Together! A Mixed-Methods Study to Assess Readiness for Interprofessional Education on Total Worker...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Safety and Health
• Public Health
• Education

Background:

• Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals require interdisciplinary collaboration skills for complex worker risks.
• Total Worker Health (TWH) necessitates collaboration with non-OSH professionals for integrated interventions.
• Interprofessional education (IPE) pedagogy can build these collaboration skills, but its application in OSH is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess OSH professionals' perceptions of interprofessional education (IPE).
• To guide the application of IPE in postgraduate Total Worker Health (TWH) education.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study with 210 U.S. OSH professionals.
• Participants completed an adapted Readiness for Interprofessional Education Scale (RIPLS).
• Virtual focus groups explored IPE benefits, barriers, and desirable features.

Main Results:

• OSH professionals reported high readiness for IPE (RIPLS score: 4.45 ± 0.47).
• Key motivators included gaining diverse perspectives, new expertise, and learning TWH best practices.
• Case studies were recommended for interdisciplinary problem-solving practice.

Conclusions:

• IPE is a valuable pedagogy for OSH continuing education to foster TWH collaboration.
• OSH educators must develop IPE competencies for effective training design and evaluation.