Abstract
Objective:This study assessed health sciences librarians' attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration using the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) and gathered information on their involvement with interprofessional activities.Methods:The authors sent a survey to librarians in the Medical Library Association's (MLA's) Interprofessional Education Special Interest Group and Research Section consisting of the IEPS and questions about their prior and current experiences with interprofessional practice and education (IPE). We compared mean IEPS scores between each MLA group and several other demographic factors to assess differences in attitudes. We also compared librarians' IEPS scores with those of previously published health professional students' IEPS scores and thematically analyzed two open-ended questions.Results:Health sciences librarians' scores on the IEPS indicated positive attitudes toward IPE. There were no statistically significant differences between any group. Health sciences librarians' mean IEPS score was similar to the mean score of health professions students from a prior study. The most commonly reported interprofessional activity was teaching or facilitating learning activities for health professions students; fewer served on committees or engaged in non-curricular activities such as grand rounds and book clubs.Conclusion:Health sciences librarians in this study reported positive attitudes toward IPE, in line with the majority of other previously studied health professionals. Years of experience, previous health professional careers, and experience supporting IPE as a librarian had little bearing on the responses to the survey. This suggests that health sciences librarians have positive attitudes toward IPE, regardless of whether they directly support IPE programs or participate in interprofessional activities.
Highlights
Team-based, collaborative health care is recognized as an effective model for providing high-quality care, improving communication, and lowering costs [1]
To make a baseline assessment of health sciences librarians’ attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration, the authors chose 2 populations affiliated with Medical Library Association (MLA) we perceived would be willing to respond to the survey
The 7 belonging to both groups were classified as members of interprofessional practice and education (IPE) for further analysis
Summary
Team-based, collaborative health care is recognized as an effective model for providing high-quality care, improving communication, and lowering costs [1]. To prepare future health professionals to work in collaborative environments, medical and health sciences schools have begun implementing interprofessional practice and education (IPE) programs. IPE exposes health professions students to each other through structured learning opportunities. The goal is to foster communication skills, an understanding of and respect for other professions, and the ability to problem-solve using a broader, patient-centered perspective [2]. Librarians routinely work with a variety of health professionals in different settings, which creates the opportunity for them to play an important role in IPE and collaborative practice. In 2016, the Medical Library Association (MLA) published the first book
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