An Interprofessional Learning Opportunity Affecting Student Attitudes towards Health Care

Background: Interprofessional education is an emerging trend in health professional education. This study tested the effects of a new educational intervention with first-year health professional students on their perceptions of interprofessional education, understanding the roles of various health professions, and attitudes toward future interprofessional practice. Methods and findings: A prospective study was carried out with 780 first-year students from 6 health professional programs at Des Moines University in 2011 and 2012. Phase I consisted of directed investigation by study subjects of their future scope of practice, pre-survey participation, and an orientation for faculty facilitators. Phase II involved an Interprofessional Education (IPE) Day with presentations, a video viewing, small group discussions on a multi-problem clinical case aimed at promoting interprofessional collaboration in a patient-centered care process, and post-survey. After this educational intervention, significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed in participants’ understanding of: IPE concepts; scopes of practice by different health care professions; and the role of IPE in improving working relationships, communication with patients and ultimate patient care outcomes. Conclusions: This paradigm of an IPE intervention can be used to promote early recognition and practice of IPE during health care career training. © 2013, Springer International Publishing.