Piloting an Interprofessional Virtual Cadaveric Dissection Course: Responding to COVID-19.

Abstract

Interprofessional learning improves students' clinical and interprofessional competencies. COVID-19 prevented delivering in-person education and motivated the development of a virtual interprofessional cadaveric dissection (ICD) course. This study reports on the effects of a virtual ICD course compared to a previously delivered in-person course, on students' readiness for, and perceptions about, interprofessional learning. Students attending the ICD course in-person (2019-2020) or virtually (2020-2021) completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS). Students in the virtual course also provided written feedback. Thirty-two (24 women; Median: 24 [Q1-Q3: 22-25] yrs.) and twenty-three students (18 women; 22 [21-23] yrs.) attended the in-person and virtual courses, respectively. In the virtual cohort, the RIPLS total score (82 [76-87] vs. 85 [78-90]; p=0.034) and the roles and responsibilities sub-score (11 [9-12] vs. 12 [11-13]; p=0.001) improved significantly. In the in-person cohort, the roles and responsibilities sub-score improved significantly (12 [10-14] vs. 13 [11-14]; p=0.017). No significant differences were observed between cohorts (p<0.05). Themes identified in the qualitative analysis were advantages & positive experiences, competencies acquired, disadvantages & challenges, and preferences & suggestions. In-person and virtual ICD courses seem to have similar effects on students' interprofessional learning. However, students reported preferring the in-person setting for learning anatomy-dissection skills.