title: Breaking down barriers: multidisciplinary education model.
abstract: A pilot project was implemented involving students from three disciplines: dental hygiene, physical therapy, and physician assistant. The purpose was to prepare students to work together in multidiscipline teams utilizing concepts of problem-based learning (PBL) on both simulated and real patients. The project was divided into three phases. Phase I introduced discipline specific information, team concepts, and PBL concepts. Phase II involved students working in multidisciplinary teams solving a simulated patient case in the PBL format. Phase III consisted of students working in small groups and on real patients, performing an extraoral/intraoral and periodontal examination, a problem oriented physical examination, and a neuromuscular assessment. Pre and posttest evaluation of Phase I revealed no difference in knowledge among the three disciplines. Of those students evaluating Phase II and III, 100% felt PBL was an effective means of presenting multidisciplinary material; 93% reported enhanced problem-solving; 98% indicated improvements in working in groups; and 98% felt they had learned more about each other's discipline. This model may provide a viable means to prepare interdisciplinary teams to work effectively together.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lary
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Muma
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoeft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017145:Models, Educational; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016544:Patient Simulation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000193:education*; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018794:Problem-Based Learning