Health Sciences Faculty Attitude and Readiness Towards Simulation-Based Inter-Professional Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is recognized for its potential to improve healthcare outcomes.
• Simulation-based learning (SBL) offers a controlled environment for IPE.
• Limited research exists on SBL for IPE in Pakistan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the attitudes and readiness of health sciences faculty towards simulation-based interprofessional education (IPE).

Main Methods:

• A qualitative case study was conducted at Bahria University Health Sciences Campus.
• Thirty-one faculty members from nursing, physical therapy, medical laboratory technology, medicine, and dentistry participated.
• Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, analyzed using pattern matching.

Main Results:

• Ten themes emerged: teamwork, role understanding, time constraints, communication, curriculum integration, patient outcomes, professional boundaries, ethics, faculty training, and leadership.
• Faculty recognized the value of IPE but expressed reluctance due to resource limitations.
• A need for faculty development and greater awareness of SBL for IPE benefits was identified.

Conclusions:

• Health sciences faculty acknowledge the importance of IPE but require support for implementation.
• Addressing resource limitations and enhancing faculty training are essential for successful SBL-IPE.
• Further research is needed to promote SBL-IPE in Pakistan.