Visualization of health professionals’ interprofessional collaboration approaches in higher education
Aim and Research Question(s)
The aim of this thesis was to visualize collected examples of interprofessional education (IPE) based on educators’ needs and requirements to enhance the implementation of IPE in tertiary education. With the use of international experiences and the needs and requirements of the target group, a concept of an interactive visualized website based on current European approaches of IPE was created.
Background
Interprofessional collaboration between health care professionals strengthens the health system and improves health outcomes. IPE is a necessary step in acquiring the skills needed to become a collaborative practice-ready professional [1]. Although IPE is a promising approach, health professionals still mainly work monoprofessionally [2]. This thesis addresses this gap by offering a concept for a website that presents necessary information to support educators with the implementation of IPE.
Methods
A mixed-method approach was used. Within the user-centered design process, three interviews were conducted with the target group to determine needs, requirements, and obstacles regarding IPE. A persona and use case were made based on the results. Furthermore, international IPE interventions were collected via an online questionnaire. The results led to a visualization concept of a website for educators.
Results and Discussion
21 interventions were evaluated regarding their framework conditions, didactical concept, outcomes, impact, and dissemination. Selected results were visualised on the website (see figure 1). The user research has shown that framework conditions, content, prerequisites, outcome as well as lessons learned are necessary information, which was taken into account in the visualisation concept. A proven website concept was adapted to the needs of the target group and expanded with informative elements. A filter enables the search for individual requirements.
Figure 1: Visualization of the professions involved in the interventions on the INPRO project website
Conclusion
The results suggest that especially at the institutional level, IPE-friendly framework conditions need to be established and necessary steps in the process of IPE implementation need to be made available to educators in a low-threshold way. A further step would be the evaluation and expansion of the website to ensure sustainable dissemination.
References
- WHO. (2010). Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. WHO. Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice (who.int)
- SAMW. (2020). Charta 2.0 Interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit im Gesundheitswesen. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.3865147.