title: A quality improvement activity to promote interprofessional collaboration among health professions students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and evaluate a classroom-based curriculum designed to promote interprofessional competencies by having undergraduate students from various health professions work together on system-based problems using quality improvement (QI) methods and tools to improve patient-centered care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students from 4 health care programs (nursing, nutrition, pharmacy, and physical therapy) participated in an interprofessional QI activity. In groups of 6 or 7, students completed pre-intervention and post-intervention reflection tools on attitudes relating to interprofessio nal teams, and a tool designed to evaluate group process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred thirty-four students (76.6%) completed both self-reflection instruments, and 132 (74.2%) completed the post-course group evaluation instrument. Although already high prior to the activity, students' mean post-intervention reflection scores increased for 12 of 16 items. Post-intervention group evaluation scores reflected a high level of satisfaction with the experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a quality-based case study and QI methodology were an effective approach to enhancing interprofessional experiences among students.
authors: College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. roy.dobson@usask.ca
authors: Roy Thomas
authors: RT
authors: Dobson
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Stevenson
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Busch
authors: Darlene J
authors: DJ
authors: Scott
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Henry
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Wall
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011786:Quality Control; D013336:Students, Health Occupations