Comparing outcomes of an innovative interprofessional student placement model to standard placement models in rural healthcare settings

ABSTRACT

This unique study investigated the educational and service delivery impacts of a team-based, innovative model of interprofessional education (IPE) namely the Rural Interprofessional Education and Supervision (RIPES) model on participating students, clinical educators, and their workplaces, in rural Australian healthcare settings. Participating professions included dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech pathology. Outcomes from the RIPES model were compared with regular uni-professional placement models. A multi-site, pre-post, comparative design was used. The main data collection measures included were the Students Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education – Revised scale, the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale, and time-usage data. The RIPES model resulted in significant improvement in students’ beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes that underpin interprofessional socialization and collaborative practice in healthcare settings. Importantly, students were able to benefit from the RIPES learning activities without compromising their contact time with patients. Clinical educators spent significantly more time in non-patient contact activities than the uni-professional group. This important work was undertaken in response to previous calls to address a gap in IPE models in rural areas. It involved students from multiple professions and universities, measured impacts on multiple stakeholders, and followed international best practice interprofessional education research recommendations.

KEYWORDS:

• Innovative model
• interprofessional education
• rural healthcare
• team-based interprofessional placement

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation [THF 2020 R1 01].

Notes on contributors

Priya Martin

Dr Priya Martin is a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia. She undertakes world class research to enhance the safety and quality of healthcare and promote collaborative work.

Martelle Ford

Ms Martelle Ford is a research assistant at the University of Queensland and a PhD candidate.

Anne Hill

A/Prof Anne Hill is an honorary associate professor at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland.

Geoff Argus

A/Prof Geoff Argus is the director of Southern Queensland Rural Health, a University Department of Rural Health in Queensland.

Nicola Graham

Ms Nicky Graham is Director of speech pathology at Cairns Hospital and Health Service, Queensland.

Matthew Browne

Prof Matthew Browne is a research professor at the School of Health, Medical and Applied sciences at Central Queensland University.