Interprofessional education and collaboration in public health: A multidisciplinary health professions IPE project - DUPLICATE ENTRY
Abstract
© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an interprofessional education (IPE) intervention on undergraduate health professions students’ current interprofessional awareness and understanding, and intent to interprofessionally collaborate. Subject and methods: This mixed methods study (N = 50) consisted of undergraduate community health nursing (n = 42) and health education (n = 8) students at a Midwestern, urban, public university. Undergraduate health professions students were invited to the IPE event co-hosted by the researchers. The session began with introductions, after which students completed a consent form and then watched a series of six brief videos, which were created by the researchers, illustrating how various disciplines collaborate in a public health department. The videos were followed by discussion, after which participants were divided into groups and given one of two case studies to work on, followed by large group discussion, after which participants completed the evaluation. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS); qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results: The results showed that the majority of participants felt that their interprofessional awareness, understanding, and intent to collaborate increased. The findings also revealed what they learned, misconceptions they had about the disciplines that were clarified, and what they felt was most helpful. Conclusion: This research provides support for the effectiveness of a brief, collaborative IPE intervention in increasing health professions students’ interprofessional awareness, understanding, and intent to interprofessionally collaborate.