What are the best ways to teach interprofessional education in collaborative care models?

2 Choose appropriate methods and formats

Delivering IPE requires resources, context, and preferences. Common methods and formats for IPE include case studies, role plays, simulations, and workshops. Case studies can be used to explore different aspects of collaborative care, such as ethical dilemmas or clinical decision-making. Role plays allow participants to act out scenarios involving interactions between health professionals, patients, and families. Simulations use mannequins, actors, or virtual reality to create realistic and immersive situations that require interprofessional collaboration. Workshops provide interactive sessions focusing on topics related to collaborative care like ethics or cultural competence. With these methods and formats, you can practice your communication skills, test your clinical skills, share your expertise, learn from others, and apply your learning to practice.

3 Facilitate active participation and reflection

To ensure effective IPE, it is essential to engage learners in active and meaningful participation and reflection. To do this, create a safe and supportive learning environment that encourages mutual respect, trust, and openness. Provide clear instructions, expectations, and guidance for the IPE activity and offer opportunities for feedback and questions. Additionally, use diverse and inclusive methods and materials that are suitable for different learning styles, preferences, and backgrounds. Encourage learners to share their opinions, experiences, and insights while also listening and learning from others. Finally, prompt learners to reflect on their learning process and outcomes, as well as their strengths and areas for improvement.

4 Integrate theory and practice

Incorporating effective IPE is essential for connecting theory and practice, so learners can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. This can be accomplished by utilizing relevant and authentic examples and cases to demonstrate the advantages and difficulties of collaborative care. Furthermore, learners should be given chances to observe, shadow, or join interprofessional teams in practice settings, such as clinics, hospitals, or community centers. Additionally, inviting guest speakers, mentors, or role models from different professions and sectors to share their experiences and insights on collaborative care is beneficial. Finally, learners should be encouraged to use evidence-based resources and tools to support their learning and practice; such as guidelines, protocols, or checklists.

5 Evaluate and improve

The last step of effective IPE is to evaluate and improve your teaching and learning strategies, as well as the impact of your IPE activities on collaborative care. To do so, you can collect and analyze data on the learning objectives and outcomes through surveys, interviews, or tests. Additionally, you should solicit and incorporate feedback from learners, peers, and stakeholders through focus groups, reviews, or testimonials. It's important to identify and celebrate successes, as well as acknowledge and address challenges and gaps. Lastly, seek and implement opportunities for improvement, innovation, and collaboration through professional development, research, or partnerships.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?