Enhancing Early Identification of Speech-Language-Hearing Delays Through Interprofessional Peer Teaching in a...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Communication Sciences and Disorders

Background:

• The healthcare landscape is shifting towards team-based care models.
• Integrating interprofessional education into graduate programs is crucial for developing collaborative skills.
• Peer teaching is an effective strategy for enhancing learning in health professions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an interprofessional peer teaching intervention on physician assistant (PA) students' knowledge.
• To evaluate PA students' satisfaction with a peer-led educational experience focused on speech-language-hearing developmental milestones and screening.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, descriptive study using a pretest, posttest interventional design.
• The intervention involved peer teaching led by speech-language pathology and audiology graduate students.
• Thirty-five PA students participated in the educational intervention.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in knowledge scores was observed from pretest to posttest.
• PA students reported a positive overall experience with the peer-led learning activity.
• The intervention effectively enhanced understanding of developmental milestones and screening.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional peer teaching is a valuable educational strategy for PA students.
• Collaboration between speech-language pathology, audiology, and PA programs benefits pediatric primary care training.
• This model enhances graduate CSD programs by fostering interprofessional learning and practice.