Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of an interprofessional education experience for speech-language pathology and OT students. Such experiences improve collaboration among health care professionals in clinical practice.
Primary Author and Speaker: Brandi Fulwider
Additional Authors and Speakers: Melinda Delbridge, Adam Story
Interprofessional education (IPE) addresses interdisciplinary collaboration among students in healthcare education programs. Current trends support scenario-based learning that utilizes simulated patients to expose students to real-life situations in order to foster development of clinical reasoning and higher-level cognitive skills (Waghmare & Waghmare, 2021). However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of such experiences for speech-language pathology (SLP) and occupational therapy (OT) students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an IPE experience with SLP and OT graduate students during a standardized patient experience. Research questions evaluated the level of confidence, preparedness, attitudes, views, and knowledge among students before and after the IPE experience to highlight the importance of including IPE in the curricula. The study used a mixed methods study design, utilizing pre and post-surveys with both Likert scale and open-ended questions. First year graduate students in the SLP and OT programs at A.T. Still University were recruited to participate. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test comparisons, and qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Overall, the 49 student participants had improved knowledge, confidence, and preparedness in understanding scopes of practice, roles in interprofessional collaborative practice, and the importance of interdisciplinary communication for effective patient care and teamwork. Results suggested that IPE experiences using standardized patients can effectively prepare SLP and OT students for successful interprofessional collaborative practice and may improve patient care and outcomes in clinical practice. Findings also support the benefits of providing IPE experiences, which has the potential to significantly impact education in entry-level OT programs and the care provided to OT clients.
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