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Delivery of interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives for pre-licensure students is increasingly the norm in health and social care training programmes. This collaborative form of education relies on teachers from various disciplines joining together to facilitate IPE. When IPE programmes first start, goodwill often prevails and facilitators are keen to take part. But as time goes on, retaining the IPE facilitator workforce is challenging. Research was undertaken to explore the experience of IPE facilitators who were part of a New Zealand university-based ten year old IPE programme. The research used a qualitative survey approach. Responses were received from 29% of all those invited to participate. Closed questions were collated and free-text survey responses analyzed using Template Analysis. Three themes and one integrative theme were identified. Themes include facilitators who are recognized, facilitators who are confident, and facilitators who are inspired. Themes were mediated by macro, meso and micro level forces. The cross-cutting integrative theme showed IPE facilitators experienced individual tipping points, with the potential to influence their continued involvement. These tipping points need to be recognized and addressed by those in senior level positions (macro-governance and meso-management), to ensure IPE facilitators continue and IPE programmes remain sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interprofessional education (IPE) programs for pre-registration health science students are largely offered within one institution including different schools or faculties. Sometimes in small or regional institutions where there are limited student numbers or few professional training programs, or where larger institutions do not offer particular professional programs, it may be necessary to partner with other institutions to offer IPE. This study sought to explore teacher perspectives of forming inter-institutional partnerships to deliver IPE, in particular, to identify the elements that influence the formation of partnerships. An interpretive descriptive approach was used to thematically analyze data from three focus groups with teachers (n = 21) working in three different partnerships to deliver IPE to students in Wellington, New Zealand. Two main themes were identified which enabled the development of a model of partnership, with a continuum of complexity depending on whether institutions were on the same page and whether the partnership formed to join an existing IPE program or to create a new IPE program. Forming inter-institution partnerships is a pragmatic solution to providing IPE with benefits to all taking part. Our work showed that time, effort, working with complexity, and ability to stay on the same page are necessary elements for building successful partnerships and all need to be taken into account when planning inter-institution partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Interprofessional education (IPE) has been shown to enhance interprofessional practice among health professionals. Until recently there has been limited opportunity to undertake such initiatives within existing pre-registration degree courses in New Zealand. AIM: This study aimed to test the feasibility of delivering an interprofessional component within existing health professional courses for medicine, physiotherapy and dietetics at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. METHODS: An interprofessional case-based course component (on chronic condition management) was developed by academic clinical teachers from schools of medicine, physiotherapy and dietetics at the same location. Evaluation was undertaken using a previously validated pre- and post-survey tool, to ascertain changes in attitude among students towards interprofessional practice, IPE and the effective- ness of health care teams. Focus groups were conducted with students and teachers. RESULTS: Survey results indicated pre-existing positive attitudes to interprofessional practice and education among students. There was a statistically significant increase in positive attitude towards such practice and education, and increased confidence in the effectiveness of heath care teams. Focus group findings were consistent with the survey results for students, and highlighted challenges experienced by the teachers. DISCUSSION: Students and teachers alike enjoyed the interprofessional interaction and benefited from a collaborative approach to chronic condition management. The timing and nature of learning activities and assessment methods created logistical challenges. Such course components have potential to improve collaborative practice and the quality and safety of health care among graduates. Interprofessional course components need to be equitable across disciplines and embedded in the unidisciplinary courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]