Reflections by potential health care providers on a research methodology course taught under a primary health care centre: An experience of inter-professional education

Abstract

Objectives Public health research demands a collaborative approach in working with communities to combat expected challenges in the field. Therefore, to improve primary care services, a training programme on research methodology, focusing on the principles of inter-professional education (IPE), was introduced at Karachi Medical and Dental College. The objectives of this study were to assess the level of learning by participants in the domain of communication and to explore participants' opinions and evaluations of the training programme. Methods A total of 96 participants, including faculty members, medical students, social works students and health technicians in the research methodology course, were selected during March to September 2010. The study employed mixed method research in which communication competencies and participants' perceptions, as captured by course evaluations, were analysed, and findings were triangulated. Results The results showed that 87% of faculty enjoyed contributing to ‘inter-professional relationships’ and that ‘teamwork’ skills in community-focused areas improved among 90% of students. As many as 78% of students and 70% of faculty members identified ‘active listening’ and ‘communicating information to families’, respectively, as being learned to a lesser extent. These findings were defended by their deliberations on course evaluation. Conclusion Learning through inter-professional relationships was found to be most effective among faculty, whereas learning through teamwork was found to be most effective among students. Moreover, it was found that information was better communicated to families by students than by faculty staff.

Interprofessional education: collaborative team work among undergraduate medical students

“…1 Learning Together to Work Together for Health is the essential guide for the working of Interprofessional Education (IPE), the idea presented by WHO and is defined as an experience that "occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve outcomes". 2 The core competencies for IPE include collaborative teamwork, communication skills, ethical practice, roles and responsibilities, and conflict resolution. 2 IPE expects to improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards collaboration to enhance their future clinical practice.…”

“…The Karachi Medical and Dental College launched a training programme on research methodology focusing on the principles of IPE to improve primary care delivery. 2 The Dental Hygiene programme at Aga Khan University is also an example of IPE improving patient healthcare. 3 These deficiencies can be overcome by vertically and horizontally integrating IPE in the curriculum.…”