AN EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ON PROFESSIONALS' PERFORMANCE IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT (PHYSICIANS, NURSES, PARAMEDICS).
Contributors: University of Wisconsin--Madison.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 186
Subjects: Education, Adult and Continuing.; Health Sciences, Education.; Education, Higher.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Interprofessional practice in the area of accident and emergency is not a luxury nor simply an alternative mode of service delivery. Rather, it is an essential and vital process for effective service to the patients.

Interprofessional education was proposed and encouraged as a response to the question of how to train health professionals to work effectively in interprofessional health teams. However, little is known about the impact of interprofessional education on professionals' practice. This study explored the influence of one form of interprofessional education, the Multidisciplinary Team Building Workshop, on the subsequent practice of its participants, particularly on the interprofessional team process. Eighteen health professionals were asked to reflect on their experience with that workshop and with the practice of interprofessional team work in their department. Participants were physicians, nurses, and paramedics who have been working at the Accident and Emergency Department (A/E) at the Salmania Medical Center in Bahrain.

Data analysis suggested that interprofessional education resulted in enhancing a positive attitude about interprofessional practice, increasing confidence and creating new knowledge and awareness. To a limited extent the workshop resulted also in improved communication. However, no impact was found on learning the process of teamwork and the team maintenance functions. Lack of impact on the process could be attributed to problems within the setting of A/E department, these problems represent major barriers to teamwork.

Findings suggested that the influence of interprofessional education could be enhanced with attention to professionals as well as organizational needs. In addition, data suggested that the context of Accident and Emergency offers an opportunity for more understanding of interprofessional teamwork. A critical look at the interprofessional team process that occurs when dealing with critical emergency cases might provide more insights and more understanding on how to teach health professionals to work as a team.

Collaborative practice when dealing with critical emergency cases can provide a context in which to explore educational opportunities, as well as research opportunities.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-01, Section: A, page: 0067.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON, 1995.

School code: 0262.