“Opening eyes to real interprofessional education”: results of a national faculty development initiative focused on interprofessional education in oncology palliative care

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate participants’ feedback related to their experience in the Interprofessional Education Exchange (iPEX) program, a training initiative for faculty development in interprofessional oncology palliative care education. Participants voluntarily submitted a written reflection using a guide. The research team used qualitative content template analysis techniques to determine codes and categories based on the reflections and selected representative quotations (meaning units) from the data. Fifty-three reflections (100%) submitted by those completing the training were included in the analysis. The most appreciated aspects of the training were the opportunity for exchange of ideas and programs and the time allowed during the workshop for each team to work on developing their unique plan for interprofessional education (IPE) in oncology palliative care at their home institution. The iPEX program proved to be feasible, well-accepted, and valued by participants who reported personal, professional, and team growth and expressed appreciation for program support, content, and the exchange of ideas in a face-to-face setting. The results demonstrate that a faculty development program built on recommendations in the literature contributed to successful efforts to plan and initiate IPE in oncology palliative care.

KEYWORDS:

• Palliative care
• interprofessional education
• interprofessional care
• faculty development
• interprofessional team training
• oncology palliative care

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute under grant R25 CA203637. The authors would like to acknowledge the faculty teams who participated and represented the following institutions: Brown University, California State University Fullerton, Idaho State University, Jefferson University, Loyola University Chicago, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Mount Sinai Health System, Sacred Heart University, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, University of Iowa, University of Maryland Baltimore, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, and Washington University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute [R25 CA203637-01A1].

Notes on contributors

Barbara Head

Barbara Head, PhD, CHPN, FPCN, ACSW, APHSW-C is co-Principal Investigator on the iPEX project and a Professor at the University of Louisville, School of Medicine. She has led the development of two interprofessional curricula and frequently facilitates IPE sessions involving students from multiple professions. She has presented nationally and is published in the field of IPE. 

Tara Schapmire

Tara Schapmire, PhD, MSSW, CSW, OSW-C, FNAP, is an co-investigator on the project, an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville, School of Medicine and affiliated faculty at the Kent School of Social Work. She has been a co-investigator on projects aimed at improving palliative care and geriatrics education and a community based intervention to reduce the burden of lung cancer. 

Carol Jones

Carol Jones, MEd has served as program director on  several IPE projects. At the University of Louisville, she is the Program Coordinator for the Interdisciplinary Program for Palliative Care and Chronic Illness. A teacher for over 20 years, her career has focused on educational innovation. 

Bonika Peters

Bonika Peters, MPH, is a Senior Program Coordinator at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in program planning, management and evaluation. She provides administrative support to the iPEX project.

Christian Davis Furman

Christian Furman, Md, MSPH, AGSF is the Medical Director for the Trager Institute at the University of Louisville. She is a Professor of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine and holds the Margaret Dorward Smock Endowed Chair for Geriatric Medical Education. She serves as co-investigator for the iPEX project.

Monica Ann Shaw

Monica Ann Shaw, MD, MA, FACP is a Professor of Medicine and the Vice Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She is an experienced medical educator and led the integration of palliative care into the curriculum at the Medical School. She serves as an co-investigator on the iPEX project.

Frank Woggon

Frank Woggon, PhD, BCC is Director of Chaplaincy Services for the Louisville Medical campus. He led the overall chaplaincy integration for the iCOPE IPE project and serves as co-investigator on the iPEX project. He is an active interprofessional teacher and has written and spoken nationally about the chaplain's role in IPE. 

Mark Pfeifer

Mark Pfeifer, MD, FACP served as Principal Investigator for the iCOPE IPE project and is co-Principal Investigator on the iPEX project. He is a Professor of Medicine and holds the V.V. Cooke Endowed Chair. He has served as NCI Study Section member focusing on cancer education. Dr. Pfeifer frequently facilitates IPE sessions with students from multiple professions.