Forming inter-institutional partnerships to offer pre-registration IPE: a focus group study

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE) programs for pre-registration health science students are largely offered within one institution including different schools or faculties. Sometimes in small or regional institutions where there are limited student numbers or few professional training programs, or where larger institutions do not offer particular professional programs, it may be necessary to partner with other institutions to offer IPE. This study sought to explore teacher perspectives of forming inter-institutional partnerships to deliver IPE, in particular, to identify the elements that influence the formation of partnerships. An interpretive descriptive approach was used to thematically analyze data from three focus groups with teachers (n = 21) working in three different partnerships to deliver IPE to students in Wellington, New Zealand. Two main themes were identified which enabled the development of a model of partnership, with a continuum of complexity depending on whether institutions were on the same page and whether the partnership formed to join an existing IPE program or to create a new IPE program. Forming inter-institution partnerships is a pragmatic solution to providing IPE with benefits to all taking part. Our work showed that time, effort, working with complexity, and ability to stay on the same page are necessary elements for building successful partnerships and all need to be taken into account when planning inter-institution partnerships.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• pre-registration
• health sciences
• inter-institution
• partnerships
• education institutions

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the assistance of Peter Gallagher and Emma Osborne who moderated the focus groups. We also acknowledge Ben Gray and Christine Wilson who contributed to undertaking this research.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Otago Interprofessional Education Centre.

Notes on contributors

Eileen McKinlay

Eileen McKinlay is an Associate Professor and leads the Interprofessional Education programme at University of Otago Wellington. She is a Registered Nurse.

Melanie Brown

Melanie Brown is a Research Fellow at University of Otago Wellington.

Louise Beckingsale

Louise Beckingsale is a Professional Practice Fellow and leads the Interprofessional Education programme at University of Otago Christchurch. She is a Dietitian.

Marla Burrow

Marla Burrow is a Lecturer in the School of Nursing, Massey University. She is a Registered Nurse.

Karen Coleman

Karen Coleman is the Radiology Manager at Hutt Hospital. She is a Radiation Therapist.

Ben Darlow

Ben Darlow is a Senior Lecturer at University of Otago Wellington. He is a Physiotherapy Specialist.

Sarah Donovan

Sarah Donovan is a Professional Practice Fellow at University of Otago Wellington. She is a former Midwife.

Tom Gorte

Tom Gorte is a Clinical Nurse Educator at Hutt Hospital. He is a Registered Nurse.

Jo Hilder

Jo Hilder is a Research Fellow at University of Otago Wellington.

Hazel Neser

Hazel Neser is a Professional Practice Fellow at University of Otago Wellington. She is an Educational Psychologist.

Meredith Perry

Meredith Perry is a Senior Lecturer at University of Otago Wellington. She is a Physiotherapist.

Dougal Sutherland

Dougal Sutherland is the Clinical Practice Manager, School of Psychology, Victoria University Wellington. He is a Clinical Psychologist.

Debbie Wallace

Debbie Wallace is the EVOLVE Programme Manager at the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. She is a Pharmacist.

Craig Waterworth

Craig Waterworth was a former Lecturer at Massey University Wellington. He is a Registered Nurse.

Sue Pullon

Sue Pullon is a Professor and Director of the Otago Interprofessional Education Centre University of Otago. She is a General Practitioner.