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Background: The development of successful and functional interprofessional practice is best achieved through interprofessional learning (IPL). Given that many paramedic programmes still take an isolative uni-professional educational approach to their undergraduate courses, it is unclear on their preparedness for students' IPL. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the attitudes of undergraduate paramedic and nursing/paramedic students from nine Australian universities towards IPL over a two year period., Methods: Using a convenience sample of paramedic and nursing/paramedic students-attitudes towards IPL was measured using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) 5-point Likert-scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree)., Results: A total of 1264 students participated (n=303 in 2011 and n=961 in 2012) in this study, consistent with a 43% response rate. Surveyed students were predominantly first year n=506 (40.03%), female n=748 (59.2%) and undertaking single paramedic degrees n=948 (75.0%). Nursing/paramedic students demonstrated significantly lower Negative Professional Identity (M=6.26, p=0.004) and Roles and Responsibilities means (M=6.87, p<0.0001) and higher Positive Professional Identity means (M=15.68, p=0.011) compared with paramedic students., Conclusions: The impact of nursing/paramedic education was shown to significantly enhance student attitudes towards interprofessionalism and the individual universities involved in this study generated students at varying stages of IPL preparedness. Students' year level appeared to influence IPL readiness, yet there are compelling paradoxical arguments for both earlier and later inclusion of IPL within curricula., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Healthcare systems are evolving to feature the promotion of interprofessional practice more prominently. The development of successful and functional interprofessional practice is best achieved through interprofessional learning. Given that most paramedic programmes take an isolative uni-professional educational approach to their healthcare undergraduate courses, serious questions must be raised as to whether students are being adequately prepared for the interprofessional healthcare workplace. The objective of this study was to assess the attitudes of paramedic students towards interprofessional learning across five Australian universities., Methods: Using a convenience sample of paramedic student attitudes towards interprofessional learning and cooperation were measured using two standardised self-reporting instruments: Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS)., Results: Students' readiness for interprofessional learning did not appear to be significantly influenced by their gender nor the type of paramedic degree they were undertaking. As students progressed through their degrees their appreciation for collaborative teamwork and their understanding of paramedic identity grew, however this appeared to negatively affect their willingness to engage in interprofessional learning with other healthcare students. The tertiary institute attended also appeared to influence students' preparedness and attitudes to shared learning., Conclusions: This study has found no compelling evidence that students' readiness for interprofessional learning is significantly affected by either their gender or the type of degree undertaken. By contrast it was seen that the tertiary institutions involved in this study produced students at different levels of preparedness for IPL and cooperation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Understanding students' attitudes towards certain medical conditions and diagnoses is an important part of the foundational education that students receive prior to their progression into the health care workforce. Therefore having instruments such as the Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS) with strong measurement properties is important for health care professions., Objectives: The objective of this paper was to examine the factor structure of the MCRS when completed by a group of undergraduate paramedic and paramedic/nursing students., Methods: Data from the MCRS completed by 783 paramedic students were analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by a maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test goodness-of-fit to the sample data., Results: Two factors emerged from the EFA labelled Positive Regard and Negative Regard that accounted for 52.67% of the total variance. The 10-item 2-factor model produced good model-fit and good reliability estimates. One MCRS item was discarded since it loaded on a single factor and was not considered to be viable as a stand-alone subscale., Conclusions: Findings from the CFA suggest that the new 10-item version of the MCRS is a valid and reliable measure for determining undergraduate paramedic students' regard for medical conditions. The new 2-factor model appears to be defined by Positive Regard and Negative Regard factors., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Healthcare systems are continuing searching for alternative service delivery models while at the same time also promoting interprofessional practice and cooperation among workers. One scale that aims to measure interprofessional cooperation is the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS), although limited psychometric testing on its validity and reliability has been carried out. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the dimensionality and internal consistency of the IEPS (suggested by McFadyen and colleagues) when completed by a group of paramedic undergraduates., Methods: Data from the IEPS were analysed with a factor analysis using a Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) with Oblique Oblimin rotation., Results: A total of (n=303) undergraduate paramedic students participated in the study who reported having positive attitudes towards interprofessional cooperation. Factor analysis of the 12-items revealed two factors with eigenvalues above 1, accounting for 53.85% of the total variance. Items with loadings greater than ±.30, with the factor in question were used to describe the two factors: Cooperation and Teamwork, and Positivity., Conclusion: While data from this study produced a multi-dimensional scale with adequate eigenvalues and communalities, improvements to the scales internal consistency can be made with future data sets. The results from the IEPS suggest that undergraduate paramedics have positive regard towards interprofessional cooperation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)