Innovative Student-Led Seminar Series Geared Towards Increasing Interprofessional Education
Background
Research has consistently shown that interprofessional education (IPE) improves patient-centered care and outcomes. Specifically, newer research has identified that student leadership in IPE leads to improved participation among peers, thus leading to improved IPE overall. Peer teaching described within medicine and nursing has had positive effects for both the learner and the teacher, but these studies were uni-professionally and did not examine this within an interprofessional context. The authors aimed to describe a student-developed IPE curriculum where health professional students learn from each other.
Methods
The IPE Student Advisory Committee (SAC), a student-run committee that serves as a collaborative community for all the health professional schools at our institution, put together a lecture series featuring various health professions. The first seminar was led by dental students who presented on connections between oral and systemic health. The next seminar was led by a first-year doctorate occupational therapy (OT) student. Her seminar included information on the educational requirement and different careers within OT. Surveys were conducted before and after the session to ascertain their interest, knowledge, and likelihood to collaborate with the profession discussed in that particular seminar. This study was considered not regulated (IRB HUM00215717).
Results
Dentistry
In the pre-survey, all respondents (n = 18, 100%) reported their interest and likelihood to collaborate as at least 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale). After the session, there was an increase in the average score for all three categories.
Occupational therapy
The average was increased for interest, knowledge, and likelihood to collaborate from the pre- to post-seminar. At the end of the session, all students rated their interest and knowledge as 4 or higher.
Conclusion
The student-led seminar series was effective in improving student interest, knowledge, and likelihood to collaborate among different professions, and underscored the value of students teaching students.
Reflections
This study confirmed the benefit of having student-led IPE initiatives to improve the overall experience for the other students. There is a positive impact of such a seminar series on the overall knowledge, interest, and likelihood to collaborate with other health professionals. This can serve as the basis for improved interprofessional practice and thus, improved patient care.
Fulfills Criteria
This shows the structure of how the representation of different health schools fits within a student organization. Each lecturer is highlighted on the poster along with the results from the pre-surveys and post-surveys from their lecture.
