"Walking the Walk”: Promoting Competencies for Interprofessional Learning through Team Meetings—A Case Study

Abstract

Background: Interprofessional learning is a key aspect of improving team-based healthcare. Core competencies for interprofessional education (IPE) activities have recently been developed, but there is a lack of guidance as to practical application. Methods and Findings: Cancer Forum is a weekly multi-professional meeting used as the case study for this report. Power was identified as a critical issue and six questions were identified as the basis for a structured reflection on the conduct of Cancer Forum. Results were then synthesised using Habermas’ delineation of learning as instrumental, normative, communicative, dramaturgical, and emancipatory. Power was a key issue in identified obstacles to inter professional learning. Leadership emerged as a cross-cutting theme and was added as a seventh question. The emancipatory potential of interprofessional learning benefited from explicit consideration of the meeting agenda to promote competencies of sharing role knowledge, teamwork and communication. Modelling of required skills fulfils a dramaturgical and normative role. Conclusions: The structured reflection tool highlighted the relationship between power and IPE competencies. It was essential to walk the walk as well as talk. The process followed provides a practical guide for using team meetings to promote interprofessional learning competencies and thereby improving patient care.