Student experiences with an interprofessional hope-based healthy aging research project

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Sciences
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) and research are crucial for enhancing team-based communication and collaboration in healthcare.
• IPE is underutilized in higher education, highlighting the need for extracurricular opportunities.
• Effective IPE can lead to improved care quality for older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an interprofessional research project involving faculty and students designing and delivering a healthy aging program.
• To evaluate student satisfaction and perceived learning gains from participating in the research project.
• To explore the impact of hands-on experience on students' consideration of careers working with older adults.

Main Methods:

• A 15-week healthy aging program was designed and delivered by an interprofessional team of faculty and students.
• Eight undergraduate and graduate students from various health and social science disciplines team-taught weekly sessions.
• Student satisfaction and learning outcomes were assessed using a self-assessment survey.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased confidence in research tasks and a greater ability to think like a scientist.
• Participants experienced benefits from teamwork and showed increased consideration for the needs of older adults in their studies.
• The study suggests a positive correlation between hands-on experience and students' interest in geriatric careers.

Conclusions:

• Extracurricular interprofessional research projects offer valuable learning experiences for students.
• IPE initiatives can enhance students' skills, confidence, and career aspirations in gerontology.
• This project demonstrates a successful model for engaging students in research and community-based healthy aging programs.