Impact of a longitudinal student-initiated home visit programme on interprofessional education
Authors:   Department of Anaesthesiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Leung Yao Chi Gloria , Ng Kennedy Yao Yi ,   Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Yow Ka Shing ,   Department of General Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Ngiam Nerice Heng Wen ,   Department of General Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Yeo Dillon Guo Dong ,   Department of General Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Tey Angeline Jie-Yin ,   Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Lim Melanie Si Rui ,   Department of General Paediatrics, Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore, Tang Aaron Kai Wen ,   Department of Psychiatry, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Chew Bi Hui ,   Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Tham Celine ,   Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Yeo Jia Qi ,   National Healthcare Group Pharmacy, Singapore, Lau Tang Ching ,   Department of Medicine, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore; Division of Rheumatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Wong Sweet Fun ,   Medical Board and Population Health & Community Transformation, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore; Department of Geriatrics, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore, Koh Gerald Choon-Huat ,   Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Future Primary Care, Ministry of Health Office of Healthcare Transformation, Singapore, Wong Chek Hooi ,   Department of Geriatrics, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore; Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Tri-Generational HomeCare (TriGen) is a student-initiated home visit programme for patients with a key focus on undergraduate interprofessional education (IPE). We sought to validate the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and evaluate TriGen’s efficacy by investigating healthcare undergraduates’ attitude towards IPE. Methods: Teams of healthcare undergraduates performed home visits for patients fortnightly over six months, trained by professionals from a regional hospital and a social service organisation. The RIPLS was validated using exploratory factor analysis. Evaluation of TriGen’s efficacy was performed via the administration of the RIPLS pre- and post-intervention, analysis of qualitative survey results and thematic analysis of written feedback. Results: 79.6% of 226 undergraduate participants from 2015-2018 were enrolled. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors accounting for 64.9% of total variance. One item loaded poorly and was removed. There was no difference in pre- and post-intervention RIPLS total and subscale scores. 91.6% of respondents agreed they better appreciated the importance of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in patient care, and 72.8% said MDMs were important for their learning. Thematic analysis revealed takeaways including learning from and teaching one another, understanding one’s own and other healthcare professionals’ role, teamwork, and meeting undergraduates from different faculties. Conclusion: We validated the RIPLS in Singapore and demonstrated the feasibility of an interprofessional, student-initiated home visit programme. While there was no change in RIPLS scores, the qualitative feedback suggests that there are participant-perceived benefits for IPE after undergoing this programme, even with the perceived barriers to IPE. Future programmes can work on addressing these barriers to IPE.