Developing the next generation of healthcare professionals: the impact of an interprofessional education placement model

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE), as preparation for interprofessional practice, is considered essential for quality, coordinated, outcome-focussed patient care. To develop capacity in our future healthcare practitioners, IPE needs to be developed within curricula, and opportunities provided to practise within the placement setting. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a structured IPE placement program on students’ perceptions of IPE within an authentic healthcare setting. This paper reports on changes in students’ attitudes toward IPE, as measured by the SPICE-R2 instrument, in response to program involvement. Thirty-six students from six health professions participated in the study and reported significantly improved perceptions toward IPE, particularly in their understanding of roles and responsibilities, teamwork, and patient outcomes. The outcomes reinforce the importance of offering intentional and structured IPE activities during placement and the value provided to health students, preparing them for future collaborative practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional education
• interprofessional practice
• placement
• work-integrated learning

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Ethical standards disclosure

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving research study participants were approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the hospital health service provider, Approval number EC00172.

Additional information

Funding

This work did not receive a grant from any funding agency

Notes on contributors

Fiona Naumann

Fiona Naumann is the Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning within the Faculty of Health, at QUT.

Una Schumacher

Una Schumacher is the Project Officer for the Interprofessional Education Placement Project at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Amelia Stuckey

Amelia Stuckey is the IPE Project officer within the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, at UQ.

Amanda Love

Amanda Love is a speech pathologist and clinical education support officer at the Prince Charles Hospital.

Courtney Thompson

Courtney Thompson is the IPE Project Officer within the Faculty of Health, at QUT.

Ricky Tunny

Ricky Tunny is the Director of Work Integrated Learning within the Faculty of Health, at QUT.

Robyn Nash

Robyn Nash is the Director of IPE within the Faculty of Health, at QUT.