BackgroundThe operating room environment demands high levels of teamwork and interprofessional collaboration, yet current training programs often lack sufficient opportunities to develop these essential skills. Few studies have explored the impact of Interprofessional Education (IPE) based on digital information technology in improving the collaboration and learning among newly enrolled medical staff in the operating room.ObjectivesThis study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a digital information technology-based IPE training program for newly enrolled medical staff in the operating room. The evaluation focused on the effects of the program on the participants’ expertise, operational knowledge, team communication skills, and application of these skills in clinical practice.MethodsSixty-eight newly enrolled medical staff from surgical departments in a tertiary hospital in Shanxi province were included in this study from January 2021 to December 2022. The participants engaged in an IPE training curriculum that utilized digital information technology, featuring courses and case studies specifically tailored to the operating room environment. Post-training assessments included evaluation of test scores of expertise course, evaluation of surgical simulation operations (operational knowledge and communication), and the International Interprofessional Collaboration Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS). The effectiveness of the training was assessed by evaluating improvements in communication skills, application of practical knowledge, and teamwork in surgical contexts.ResultsExpertise course evaluation and reflection revealed that the new enrolled medical staff in the operating room had a deep understanding of the knowledge. At the same time, they are better able to understand and master the nursing mode in the process of different professional surgery, and said that they would like to cooperate with surgeon and anesthesiologist during the surgical operation. The score of the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) increased significantly (P < 0.05), indicating that the communication and collaboration skills of the new enrolled medical staff in operating room were further improved, and that they were more familiar with the patient-centered teamwork mode.ConclusionsThis study provides a valuable reference for the design and implementation of IPE programs based on digital information technology in the operating room. It highlights the importance of such programs in enhancing the understanding and cross-disciplinary communication skills for newly enrolled medical staff, ultimately improving patient care through better teamwork.
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