Early involvement in a multiprofessional course: an integrated approach to the development of personal and interpersonal skills

Abstract

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN IN THIS AREA

•	Many papers describing multiprofessional educational activities relate to activities occurring late into curricula activity.
•	Meta-analyses demonstrate multiprofessional learning only becoming effective when students are placed in a working environment.
•	Scant attention is placed upon the early development of students, recognising the need to ‘grow into professionalism’ and sharing the development of those skills so relevant to both unprofessional and multiprofessional life.

WHAT THIS WORK ADDS

•	This paper describes an early-exposure activity, related to multiprofessional learning, in which students share the learning of common requirements for professional development, and evaluate their experience in a positive manner.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

•	The real benefit to multiprofessional life and real-world activity will only be truly evaluated as their individual courses develop and the newly found skills of reflection are allowed to develop.

Keywords:

• communication skills
• international
• multiprofessional education

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lorna Olckers

Ms Lorna Olckers, BSoc(SW) Hons, is Lecturer in Public Health and Family Medicine, and Course Convenor

Trevor Gibbs

Professor Trevor Gibbs, DA (Educational Leadership) FRCGP MMedS, is Former Director of Health Sciences Education

Pat Mayers

Ms Pat Mayers, MSc BA, is Senior Lecturer, Division of Nursing and Midwifery

Melanie Alperstein

Ms Melanie Alperstein, MPhil BSocSc, is Senior Lecturer, Educational Development Unit

Madeleine Duncan

Ms Madeleine Duncan, MSc BA, is Senior Lecturer, Division of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town.