Community re-engagement and interprofessional education: the impact on health care providers and persons living with stroke.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention that integrates concepts of a community re-engagement framework (CR) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) on health care providers' (HCP) practice with persons living with stroke (PLS).


METHODS
A mixed-methods design was used in which HCPs (n = 67) and PLS (n = 29) participated from 9 organizations across the care continuum. Pre- and postintervention surveys and interviews were conducted with the HCPs. One-on-one interviews with stroke clients were also conducted pre and post intervention. Quantitative responses were analyzed in SPSS (Chicago, Illinois, USA) for descriptive frequencies and differences between pre- and postintervention groups. Qualitative open-ended responses were thematically coded using NVivo7.


RESULTS
Significant increases occurred in HCPs' knowledge of CR, confidence levels in working with PLS, enhanced understanding of the complex needs of PLS, and positive self-reported impacts on practice. PLS reported positive perceptions of care pre and post intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention provided HCPs with a common language and framework to work collaboratively and holistically in delivering care consistent with stroke best practices.
St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Donna
D
Cheung
Jocelyne
J
McKellar
Janet
J
Parsons
Mandy
M
Lowe
Jacqueline
J
Willems
Lineke
L
Heus
Scott
S
Reeves
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004517:Education, Professional; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires