Exploring Veterinary Students' Perceptions of Teamwork and Learning from an Interprofessional Community-Based...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted healthcare system gaps, emphasizing the need for interprofessional collaboration between animal and human health sectors.
• The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health, crucial for addressing global challenges.
• Interprofessional Education (IPE) serves as a pedagogical platform to instill One Health principles and collaborative practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore veterinary students' perceptions of the benefits derived from interprofessional learning experiences.
• To understand how IPE prepares future veterinarians for complex public health issues in a post-pandemic context.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological methodology was employed to capture the lived experiences of veterinary students.
• Qualitative data was collected to understand student perceptions of interprofessional learning.

Main Results:

• Veterinary students reported that IPE fostered the development of critical skills essential for practice.
• Key skills enhanced through IPE included adaptability, communication, and mutual support.
• Students gained a greater awareness of the social determinants of health through interprofessional collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional learning is vital for equipping veterinary professionals with the necessary skills to address multifaceted public health challenges.
• IPE effectively prepares veterinary students for practice by promoting collaboration and a comprehensive understanding of health determinants.
• The One Health framework, facilitated by IPE, is instrumental in tackling emerging zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change impacts.