I2C2: An international interprofessional clinical case competition for health professions students

Abstract

Interprofessional case competitions exist that allow students from different disciplines to collaborate and compete against teams from other institutions. These competitions have focused on addressing public health problems, rather than patient-specific clinical issues, and they have been limited to students in the U.S. This short communication describes the inaugural International Interprofessional Case Competition (I2C2), which brought advanced learners together from six institutions across three countries. Each participant was assigned to a multi-national interprofessional team, and each team collaborated to analyze a fictional, complex patient case and construct a cohesive interprofessional plan of care, which they presented to a panel of faculty judges. The quality of the teams’ efforts were evidenced by high ratings from judges, and student evaluations of the experience were generally positive. Some areas for future improvement include providing a more comprehensive orientation session and addressing the logistical challenges of working across time zones and at a distance. Overall, this activity successfully brought together students in a uniquely diverse and positive learning experience.