Examination of Online Interprofessional Education to Develop Graduate Students’ Interprofessional Socialization and Collaborative Competencies

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE) is important to prepare graduate students for collaborative practice. This mixed methods study sought to evaluate a full-semester, asynchronous online IPE course for graduate students. Thirty-one graduate social work, nursing, public health, and health administration students participated. Interprofessional socialization and collaborative competencies were measured at three points in the semester. There were statistically significant improvements in self-reported socialization and competencies. Qualitative analysis revealed participants experienced new perspectives, developed appreciation of interprofessional collaboration, practiced communication and teamwork skills, and used course lessons in clinical practice. Study findings indicate that online IPE can help improve graduate students’ interprofessional socialization and collaborative competencies. Further, students indicated they applied course lessons to their school and work clinical practice sites.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Grant Number M01HP31371]. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Notes on contributors

Kelly Powers

Kelly Powers is Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Shanti Kulkarni is Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.