Interprofessional education as a contributor to professional and interprofessional identities

ABSTRACT

According to the World Health Organization interprofessional education (IPE) is a necessary step in preparing a collaborative practice-ready health work force. However, the processes of developing professional identity within interprofessional education programs have not been fully explored and require a deeper understanding. Participation in interprofessional education groups may influence the development of professional identity including increased awareness of one’s own profession-specific competence as well as socialization into a professional role. Interprofessional education is a dynamic social process related to students’ memberships in IPE-groups. We conducted focus groups with representatives from students in seven different professional education programs involved in interprofessional education during all three years of their educational programs. We used the principles of systematic text condensation as an analytical frame. This article is a contribution toward grasping how IPE can contribute to both professional and interprofessional identity. Group collaboration in interprofessional education enabled students to identify with their profession as well as creating a safe place to gain insight into other professions’ competencies. Moreover, students could obtain knowledge about being a professional participant and could enrich their professional identity, as they were involved with students from other professions. IPE-groups strengthened professional identity rather than threatened it.

KEYWORDS:

• Focus groups
• interprofessional education
• professional identity
• collaboration
• qualitative method
• education

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mildrid Haugland

Mildrid Haugland, MSc, PT, works as Associate Professor and Manager for the project: High quality work placements, at Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She has more than 20 years of experience as dean and vice dean at the same institution.

Sissel J. Brenna

Sissel J. Brenna, MSc, RN, works as Assistant Professor and coordinates the Interprofessional Collaboration Programs at Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She has been involved with development of teaching and learning IPL for more than 20 years.

Mette M. Aanes

Mette M. Aanes, PhD in social psychology, works as Associate Professor at Faculty of Psychology, Department of Psychosocial Science at Bergen University.