Bridging disciplines: evaluating collaborative skills in interprofessional education between dentistry and pharmacy...

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a crucial strategy for preparing pharmacy and dentistry students for the health workforce, focusing on teamwork and collaboration. It provides an integrated knowledge application between both fields to improve patient care in areas such as infection control, antimicrobial management, and pain management. This study aimed to examine the self-reported perceptions of pharmacy and dental students regarding their interprofessional collaborative competencies before and after participating in a pilot interprofessional education activity.

An IPE activity was conducted from September 4-8, 2022, at Future University in Egypt (FUE), involving 26 students (19 from pharmacy and 7 from dentistry). Students were assigned to intercollaborative teams with student members from both schools. Sessions were held, and group discussions were utilized, punctuated by small group cases and simulation activities, to create interprofessional understanding. Facilitators consisted of faculty from both pharmacy and dentistry. Dental rounds at FUE Teaching Dental Hospital simulated interprofessional practice among team members. To assess the perceived skills acquired from the activity, participants completed a pre-and post-activity survey using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS)- tool.

All 26 participating students completed the pre- and post-activity ICCAS survey. The students were cooperative during the overall experience and developed communication and interprofessional skills. The findings of the pre- and post-activity ICCAS yielded positive changes on all subscales. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen in all subscales when comparing pre-and post-activity scores using a Wilcoxon signed rank test.

This IPE initiative increased collaboration and understanding between pharmacy and dentistry students. The improvements noted in interprofessional competencies emphasize the significance of such initiatives in equipping future health practitioners with skills necessary for collaborative work environments. It is recommended to continue and expand initiatives focusing on IPE to foster interprofessional cooperation, effective communication, and teamwork skills for optimal patient outcomes.

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