Examining the interface between interprofessional practice and education: Lessons learned from Norway for promoting teamwork

Abstract

Promoting teamwork in health and social care requires an understanding of the interface between interprofessional practice (IPP) and interprofessional education (IPE). A study with two parts, one qualitative and one quantitative, examined this interface in Norway. The first used focus groups to assess IPP rewards, barriers, and facilitating factors among practitioners in clinical settings. The second utilized an online survey to measure IPE attitudes, barriers, and facilitating factors among senior administrators in the educational system. Results of Part 1 indicate that providers report many intrinsic rewards of IPP; however, the more extrinsic impacts of collaborative practice on patient care need to be emphasized to system managers. Results of Part 2 suggest strong general support by academic deans and directors for IPE, though addressing specific potential barriers to its implementation has become increasingly important. Overall, bridging the IPP–IPE gap requires educating leaders in both settings about the resources needed for teamwork, linking clinical and educational settings through continuing professional development, and generally advocating more effectively for both IPP and IPE.

Keywords:

• Interprofessional practice
• interprofessional education
• mixed methods study

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the All Together Better Health IV Conference: Development and Progress in lnterprofessional Education and Practice, Stockholm, Sweden, 2–5 June, 2008. The author would like to thank: the US-Norway Fulbright Foundation for fellowship support; Buskerud University College in Drammen, Norway for sabbatical support; Vernon Curran at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada for research measures and assistance; Jaime Freidinger and Faith Lees at the University of Rhode Island and Molly Greaney at Dana Farber Cancer Institute for research assistance; and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft.

Declaration of interest

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