Initiatives to promote interprofessional education in clinical practice placements

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) can be defined as learning that occurs when ‘students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Interprofessional education (IPE) can be defined as learning that occurs when ‘students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes’ (WHO, 2010). It provides an opportunity to share skills and knowledge between professions and is an essential step in preparing undergraduate occupational therapy (OT) students to work collaboratively within inter professional teams and within the wider healthcare system. As a result, it is imperative to develop early IPE opportunities within undergraduate clinical practice placements in order to promote this culture.

Educational Philosophy or theory:
Knowles’s (1975) Adult Learning Theory compliments the values and objectives of IPE where learning is more likely to become ingrained when active involvement and collaboration between the learners and facilitators takes place.

Pedagogy / educational approach(es) used:
The development of practical IPE resources to promote, enable and educate practice educators to implement IPE on clinical practice placements.

Evaluation:
Promote and increase IPE opportunities and exposure to undergraduate OT students on clinical practice placement.

Application to Education and /or practice:
Implementation and promotion of IPE learning opportunities for undergraduate OT students by educating practice educators and providing practical resources to support this practice.



References
World Health Organisation (2010). Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Colloborative Practice. Geneva: WHO