Interprofessional education program: perceptions and experiences among Brazilian participants

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for developing collaborative competencies and effective teamwork in healthcare.
• The Brazilian PET-Health program aims to strengthen teaching-service-community ties and improve healthcare professional training.
• This study evaluates the impact of the PET-Health program on collaborative competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the PET-Health program on the development of collaborative competencies.
• To explore participants' perceptions of interprofessional learning and teamwork.
• To understand the role of the PET-Health program in addressing community health needs.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory qualitative study utilizing participant narratives.
• Analysis of narratives from students and preceptors in the PET-Health program.
• Phenomenological approach using IRaMuTeQ software for text analysis.

Main Results:

• The PET-Health program improved role clarity, reduced stereotypes, and enhanced communication among professionals.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated adaptations, including the implementation of remote health education strategies.
• Community-based teaching and preceptor mediation were key factors in fostering collaborative competencies.

Conclusions:

• The PET-Health program effectively promotes teamwork and collaborative competencies.
• Adaptations to remote learning due to the pandemic spurred innovation in health education technologies.
• IPE is fundamental for healthcare professional training and should be integrated into policy and curriculum.