Comparing quantitative outcomes of synchronous online versus in-person interprofessional symposium

ABSTRACT

Healthcare and educational practices changed due to COVID-19. Interprofessional education (IPE) events during the pandemic were canceled or presented through online platforms. Fortunately, IPE using online platforms had been growing during the decade prior to the pandemic. However, few publications document quantitative outcomes of online IPE, and most report qualitative outcomes of student reactions. The purpose of this study was to determine if student outcomes from an online IPE symposium were similar to the positive outcomes from prior in-person IPE symposia. A Community of Inquiry (CoI) model within a synchronous Zoom platform was developed with intentional design supporting cognitive, instructional, and social presence; interprofessional socialisation; and collaboration. Utilising a standardised instrument, student attitudes about healthcare teams were assessed comparing pretest and posttest. Students who participated in the online IPE displayed similar improvements in attitudes towards interprofessional teams at posttest. Hence, this study supports the use of a brief, synchronous, online IPE symposium.

KEYWORDS:

• Community of inquiry
• interprofessional education
• quantitative pretest/posttest design
• synchronous online education

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Interprofessional Teaming for Dementia planning committee at Xavier University, the volunteer faculty facilitators, and the students who participated in the symposium in March 2021.

Disclosure statement

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

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

No external funding was obtained for this study.

Notes on contributors

Joan M. Tunningley

Joan M. Tunningley, PhD, OTR/L, is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Xavier University. She has been the coordinator for the Interprofessional Student Symposium since 2009.

Reneé A. Zucchero

Renee’ A. Zucchero, PhD, is a professor in the School of Psychology at Xavier University. She has been a member of the planning committee for the Interprofessional Symposium since 2009.

Edmond A. Hooker

Edmond A. Hooker, MD, DrPH, is a professor at Xavier University. He has been part of the planning committee for the Interprofessional Student Symposium since its inception in 2009.