Fostering gerontology students\u2019 competence in Interprofessional collaborative practice

Janita Pak Chun Chau,David R Thompson,Helen Chung Yan Chiang,Wai Ming Yiu,Suzanne Hoi Shan Lo,Vivian Wing Yan Lee,Alexander Yuk Lun Lau

doi:10.1186/s12909-020-02273-4

Janita Pak Chun Chau, David R Thompson + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02273-4

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Abstract

BackgroundInterprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is increasingly recognised as being crucial for the provision of holistic care and optimising health outcomes among older adults, many with multiple complex health problems. However, little is known about the challenges of facilitating this in practice. Therefore, this study explores these issues from the perspective of different healthcare professionals and how this might inform interprofessional education curricula.MethodsSixteen different healthcare professionals working in a variety of aged care (acute, rehabilitative and community) settings were invited to participate in individual semi-structured in-depth interviews designed to: (i) explore the meaning of IPCP; (ii) explore the facilitators of and barriers to IPCP; and (iii) examine the opportunities and challenges in interprofessional gerontological education. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim with thematic analysis conducted by two independent researchers.ResultsThree major themes emerged from the interviews: the need for IPCP; role preparedness, scope and liability; and strategies for interprofessional education. Respondents shared a common belief that IPCP improves the quality of life of older adults in both hospital and community settings by improving person-centred coordinated care and decision making in care planning. However, respondents perceived major barriers to IPCP to be lack of knowledge about healthcare professionals’ scope of practice, lack of training in interprofessional collaboration, professional culture and stereotypes, and liability issues. Suggested approaches to overcome these barriers included innovative teaching and learning approaches, engaging students early on in the curriculum of health professional degree programmes, and enhancing collaborative effective communication in health and social care settings.ConclusionsIt is anticipated that these findings will be used to inform the development of a new interprofessional gerontological education curriculum that aims to enhance students’ competence in IPCP.

Highlights

Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is increasingly recognised as being crucial for the provision of holistic care and optimising health outcomes among older adults, many with multiple complex health problems
Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is an aspirational holistic approach to health care that accelerates the provision of high-quality care and comprehensive health services by a multidisciplinary team that works with patients and clients, their families, and their formal and informal caregivers across various healthcare and community settings [1]
The respondents were invited to share their perceived meaning of IPCP; their experiences of, facilitators of and barriers to IPCP in aged care; strategies for enhancing IPCP, and opportunities and challenges in providing interprofessional gerontological education

Summary

Introduction

Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is increasingly recognised as being crucial for the provision of holistic care and optimising health outcomes among older adults, many with multiple complex health problems. Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is an aspirational holistic approach to health care that accelerates the provision of high-quality care and comprehensive health services by a multidisciplinary team that works with patients and clients, their families, and their formal and informal caregivers across various healthcare and community settings [1]. Many with chronic conditions, IPCP aims to ensure the provision of truly holistic, personcentred care, as well as support to their families and caregivers. Sustainable primary care is accomplished by reducing health-related risk factors, which decreases health service utilisation and yields higher quality outcomes [5]. For example, appears to be effective in addressing lifestyle risk factors such as promoting longterm weight loss [6]

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