Assessment of Inter Professional Competencies among Graduate Students in Nursing, Communication Disorders and Exercise Science in the US

Abstract

Background: Health care students are educated exclusively within their own disciplines. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of an Interprofessional Education (IPE) experience among graduate nursing, graduate communication disorders, and exercise science students. Methods: A problem-based IPE project was developed by the faculty. Students worked as a team to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Each team presented to the class after four weeks. The students completed the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS) to evaluate the IPE experience. Results: 51 students participated in the IPE experience: 24 nursing, 17 communication disorders, and 10 exercise science students. A paired samples t-test showed a significant increase (p < .05) in post-test scores in all competencies surveyed. Discussion: The results show that health professional students perceived that their IPE competencies improved because of the IPE experience. Conclusion: Incorporating IPE in the curriculum can promote interprofessional collaboration skills.