Abstract
This study examined the effects of a simulated interprofessional learning activity on students’ knowledge of feeding and swallowing disorders and attitudes and beliefs toward interprofessional collaboration among OT and speech-language pathology students.
Primary Author and Speaker: Marie-Claude Touchette
Additional Authors and Speakers: Ruiying Ding, Michelle Zemsky Dineen
Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for healthcare practitioners, (ACOTE, 2018; CAA, 2022). Several methods, including the emerging use of simulation (MacBean et al., 2013; Clinard et al., 2018) have been used for IPE, however, measuring its impact can be complex (Reeves et al., 2010). Unfortunately, only a paucity of literature focused on IPE for OT and SLP students. This quasi-experimental, pre-post group study’s purpose was to determine the effect(s) of an interprofessional (IP) simulated lab on students’ knowledge of feeding and swallowing disorders (FSD), and attitudes and beliefs toward IP collaboration amongst OT and SLP students. Students from the graduate OT and SLP programs at Elmhurst University completed a survey before and after participating in an IP simulation lab. The online Qualtrics survey included questions on knowledge of FSD, the OT and SLP scope of practice for FSD, and IP attitudes. Construct validity of the surveys was established via content expert review. A total of 35 students completed the pre-survey and 27 the post-survey. Chi-square tests or Fisher exact tests were performed for the discrete variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Significant improvements were found in the perceived knowledge of the other profession’s roles (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002 respectively), the comfort level of students regarding the collaboration process (p = 0.0077), and the awareness of professional biases (p = 0.03). These results provide initial evidence of the benefit of including an interdisciplinary simulation lab experience in healthcare IP education for graduate-level learners. The data gathered from this study will aid in the development and implementation of efficient interprofessional learning activities and educational strategies for allied health students and professionals. Benefits also include contributions to the literature demonstrating the positive benefits of pre-professional interprofessional education opportunities.
American Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (2018). 2018 ACOTE Standards and Interpretive Guide. Retrieved on August 7, 2023, from https://acoteonline.org/accreditation-explained/standards/
Clinard, E. S., & Dudding, C. C. (2019). Integrating simulations into communication sciences and disorders clinical curriculum: impact of student perceptions. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.1044/2018_AJSLP-18-0003
Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) (2022). Standards for Accreditation. Retrieved on August 7, 2023, from https://caa.asha.org/reporting/standards/