Assessing constructs underlying interprofessional competencies through the design of a new measure of interprofessional education

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Robust valid and reliable measurement tools in Interprofessional Education that are designed from a theoretical base not dependent on attitudinal responses are needed to show effectiveness. Underlying latent constructs of Interprofessional Education were operationally defined in the Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice report (2011). These constructs have not as yet been utilised in the measurement of Interprofessional Education. The purpose of the research was to design and psychometrically validate an new IPE measurement tool. Constructs were measured as follows: Domain One - Values/Ethics, attitudes toward morality, altruism and humanism; Domain Two - Roles and Responsibilities, attitudes to diversity; Domain Four - Teams and Teamwork, through cooperation and citizenship. Domain Three – Interprofessional Communication was not included as it was measured objectively. Method 1st year healthcare students were given a 73 item measure, The Psychological Constructs of IPEC Questionnaire pre- and post in a 16 week Interprofessional Foundations course over two cohort years. The students in the course were derived from 8 programs (Medicine, Psychology, Podiatry, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, Pathology Assistant, Physical Therapy, Nurse Anesthesia). A Principle Components Analysis was conducted on the data that evidenced 3 factors that reflected the IPEC Competencies being measured. Results Factor 1 (Values & Ethics) accounted for 25.9% of the overall variance. Factor 2 (Roles and Responsibilities), accounted for 7.5% of the Variance and Factor 3 (Teams and Teamwork), accounted for 4.3% of the variance. Cronbacs Alpha reported reliability of over 0.9 for two of the domains (Values and Ethics and Roles and Responsibilities). Discussion The results from the PCA report a three factor solution with item loadings reflecting the underlying latent constructs of the IPEC domain. Furthermore, the PCIECQ pre and post test scores from an Interprofessional Education class reported significant differences in the Roles and Responsibilities domain and the Values and Ethics domain.