Evolving global responses to the pandemic: sustaining interprofessional education and collaborative practice.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Practice
• Global Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant global disruption in health professions education and healthcare delivery.
• Institutions rapidly adopted digital solutions without fully assessing pedagogical effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To track the evolution of global responses to the pandemic in health professions education and practice.
• To analyze the impact of the pandemic on interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP).

Main Methods:

• Phase 3 of a longitudinal global survey conducted between November 2021 and February 2022.
• Qualitative data from 27 responses representing 25 institutions across 13 countries.
• Inductive thematic analysis to identify emerging themes.

Main Results:

• Theme 1: Impact of the pandemic on IPECP delivery.
• Theme 2: Effects on the healthcare system, including teams and patient health.
• Theme 3: Challenges and opportunities in sustainability and innovation.

Conclusions:

• Health education and collaborative practices continue to evolve post-pandemic.
• IPECP educators require resilience to navigate complex face-to-face and digital learning environments.
• Preparation for new teamwork models is crucial for future healthcare services.