Work-place cancer and palliative care interprofessional education: experiences of students and staff

ABSTRACT

Workplace-based interprofessional education (IPE) offers opportunities for pre-registration students to interact with patients in authentic settings. Senior dietetic, medical, nursing, physiotherapy and radiation therapy students took part in a workplace IPE initiative on cancer and palliative care informed by experiential learning theory and run by clinical tutors. Research was undertaken to gauge students and tutors’ experiences of the initiative. The mixed methods approach included: Pre and post-administration of the University of West England Interprofessional questionnaire ‘Communication and Teamwork Scale, ‘Interprofessional Learning Scale,’ ‘Interprofessional Interaction Scale.’ Two questions were added relating to cancer and palliative care. Separate focus group interviews were held with students and tutors. There was a positive shift in the Communication and Teamwork scale based on students’ pre and post questionnaires, but no change in the other two scales. Analysis of student and tutor focus group data showed that both affirmed the IPE initiative for a range of reasons. A brief experiential, theory-informed IPE initiative with a focus on cancer and palliative care was well received by both students and clinical tutors. The mixed method approach highlighted some discrepancies between quantitative and qualitative results but when synthesized were explicable, demonstrating the value of using a mixed methods approach to research.

KEYWORDS:

• nterprofessional education: workplace-based; pre-registration; cancer; mixed methods

Acknowledgments

We thank the Cancer and Palliative Care IPE Initiative clinical tutor team including Colleen van der Vyver, Palliative Medicine Physician, MDHB; Delamy Keall, Palliative Medicine Specialist, Arohanui Hospice, Palmerston North, Malcolm Neall, Professional Lead - Physiotherapy, MDHB; Marla Burrow, Nursing Lecturer, Massey University; Melissa Higson, Radiation Therapy Clinical Tutor, MDHB; Nathalie de Vries, Paediatrician and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, MDHB. Thank you to the senior students (now graduates) who took part in the IPE Initiative and gave their time to take part in the research. We also thank James Stanley for statistical advice, MidCentral District Health Board for supporting the IPE initiative and Sonya Clifford, Ashley Symes and Tracy Farr for administrating the initiative.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work received funding support from the University of Otago, Centre for Interprofessional Education; University of Otago.

Notes on contributors

Eileen McKinlay

Eileen McKinlay is a nurse and the Campus Leader for Interprofessional Education at University of Otago Wellington.

Kristen White

Kristen White is a dietitian, professional practice fellow and clinical tutor for dietetics students at Palmerston North Hospital. She was previously the academic leader of the Cancer and Palliative Care interprofessional education initiative at Palmerston North Hospital.

Sue Garrett

Sue Garrett trained as an occupational therapist and is a research fellow at University of Otago Wellington.Tehmina Gladman is the Education Advisor at University of Otago Wellington.

Tehmina Gladman

Tehmina Gladman is the Education Advisor at University of Otago Wellington.

Sue Pullon

Sue Pullonis a general practitioner and Director of the Centre for Interprofessional Education at University of Otago.