Interprofessional and problem-based learning: A marriage made in heaven?

Abstract

This paper explores interprofessional learning (IPL) and whether it would profit from a more systematic merger with problem-based learning (PBL). IPL is based on the idea of bringing together knowledge from the different health professions as they interact with each other for better health care. PBL springs from the idea of bringing learning closer to the application of knowledge in every day life. It has been widely adopted as an interprofessional learning method, for example at Linkøping in Sweden.

Keywords:

• Interprofessional learning
• problem-based learning
• decentration

Notes

1. A young man was lining up in the long queue to the door to heaven that was as usual guarded by St Peter. Suddenly a man in a white coat wearing a stethoscope around his neck passes the whole queue and slips through the door to heaven. There is a mumble among the queuing people and the young man who is next to St Peter turns to him and asks, “Who the hell was that, does he think he is God?” St Peter replies, “No that was God, he thinks he is a doctor.”