Gaining interprofessional knowledge and interprofessional competence on a training ward

Abstract

Background

Since 2017, interprofessional training wards have been established in Germany. On these wards, different health professions collaboratively provide patient care supervised by facilitators from the background. We investigated the gains in interprofessional knowledge and interprofessional competence reported after the mandatory placements on Mannheim’s Interprofessional Training Ward MIA. We also compared these levels of knowledge and competence at the end of the placement with control groups.

Methods

In a quasi-randomized controlled study, we used a questionnaire to collect self-reported data on the interprofessional learning outcome. We used t-tests to compare (a) pretest and posttest data in the experimental group and (b) the levels of interprofessional knowledge and competence between the experimental and control groups.

Results

The results confirmed that the MIA participants perceived a significant increase in interprofessional knowledge and competence during the placement on the training ward. MIA participants also reported significantly higher levels of interprofessional knowledge and competence than the control groups.

Conclusions

Placements on an interprofessional training ward make it possible to experience and practise interprofessional collaboration in real patient care. They help to prepare all future health professionals to assume their professional role in an interprofessional team to provide the best possible patient care.

Keywords:

• Multiprofessional
• undergraduate
• clinical
• medical education research
• learning outcomes

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the numerous people involved in running the MIA for their dedicated commitment, particularly the MIA facilitators Adile Malici, Alissa Voigt and Tobias Weiss. Our thanks also go to Colla J. MacDonald, Doug Archibald and David Trumpower for their permission to translate the ICCAS into German.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Glossary

Facilitator: (1) Someone or something that facilitates something, especially someone who helps to bring about an outcome (such as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision. (2) A person who helps somebody do something more easily by discussing problems, giving advice, etc. rather than telling them what to do.

(1) Merriam-Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facilitator (Accessed 27/01/21); (2) Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/facilitator?q=facilitator (Accessed 27/01/21)

Interprofessional Training Ward: An interprofessional training ward is an authentic hospital ward which offers a student-adapted environment where students from different health care education programs work together in teams, supervised by interprofessional staff. The interprofessional training ward concept supports students’ independent problem-solving skills by letting them take a more active part in patient care. Students learn by interacting with each other when they plan and evaluate the patients’ care and rehabilitation, as well as when they reflect upon given care. Simultaneously, they learn about and from each other. An interprofessional training ward provides students with opportunities to develop professional and interprofessional competence and collaborative skills.

Adapted from: Hallin K, Kiessling A. 2016. A safe place with space for learning: experiences from an interprofessional training ward. J Interprof Care. 30(2):141–148.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mira Mette

Mira Mette, PhD, is a research associate at the Division for Study and Teaching Development, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.

Christina Baur

Christina Baur, MD, is a senior physician in internal medicine in the Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.

Jutta Hinrichs

Jutta Hinrichs is head of the School of Physiotherapy, Academy of University Medical Centre Mannheim, Germany.

Elisabeth Narciß

Elisabeth Narciβ, MD, is a research associate at the Division for Study and Teaching Development, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.