Interprofessional postgraduate education in primary health care: Is it making a difference?

Abstract

This paper explores attitudes to, and perceptions of, the impact of interprofessional postgraduate education for primary health care professionals, based on a postal survey of 153 primary health care professionals undertaking postgraduate qualifications in New Zealand. The response rate was 75% (114/153 responses); comprising 79 doctors, 28 nurses, 7 other health professionals. As a result of their postgraduate education, 92% (104/113) reported improvement in their own practice; 68% (72/106) reported a positive influence on their workplace practice. Forty-eight percent (53/111) increased their understanding of their own professional role; 79% (77/98) increased their understanding of another professional groups' skills and competencies. Twenty-two percent (25/114) perceived increased career opportunities within a year; 56% (64/114) in the longer term. Only 12% (14/114) perceived future increases in income as a result of their study. Interprofessional postgraduate qualification study for primary health care professionals in New Zealand resulted in personal and professional benefit for individuals and their clinical practice, and increased understanding about their own and other health professionals' roles. The interprofessional nature of the education was seen as positive, contributing to a modest increase in collaboration between health professional groups. Barriers to furthering participation in interprofessional learning and increasing intersectorial collaboration in the workplace are identified and discussed.

Keywords:

• Interprofessional education
• postgraduate
• primary health care

Notes

1 High numbers of New Zealanders travel overseas on a regular basis; significant numbers of immigrants and visitors arrive from tropical destinations, including the Pacific Islands and South East Asia, and NZ enjoys a climate and topography that is conducive to recreation and extreme sport in remote wilderness and mountainous locations.

2 Primary Health Organizations (PHOs) are not-for-profit government funded organizations with community involvement, responsible for provision of primary health services to a defined population in a geographic area in New Zealand.

3 Students routinely evaluate courses using standardized but course-specific questionnaires and focus groups conducted and administered independently by the Higher Education Development Centre of the University of Otago, (Higher Education Development Centre, [2004]).