Evaluating Interprofessional Education Readiness and Perceptions Among Health Professions Students.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Practice
• Medical Education

Background:

• Inter-professional learning (IPL) or Inter-professional Education (IPE) involves students from different professions learning together.
• IPE is vital for preparing healthcare professionals for patient-centered, team-based care.
• This study assesses IPL readiness among health science students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the readiness of undergraduate students for inter-professional learning (IPL).
• To identify specific areas of strength and weakness in student readiness for inter-professional collaboration.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• 476 undergraduate students from Medicine, Nursing, and Applied Medical Sciences participated.
• The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) was administered using quota sampling.

Main Results:

• The overall mean RIPLS score was 76.20.
• Highest mean scores were observed in teamwork and collaboration (39.73).
• Lowest mean scores were in roles and responsibility (8.45), with significant differences in professional identity across colleges.

Conclusions:

• Undergraduate health science students exhibit positive attitudes towards inter-professional education.
• High readiness suggests feasibility for implementing IPL programs.
• IPE can enhance student competencies for effective interprofessional healthcare teams.