title: The Impact of Structured Inter-professional Education on Health Care Professional Students' Perceptions of Collaboration in a Clinical Setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine how a structured inter-professional education (IPE) clinical placement influences health care professional (HCP) students' perceptions of inter-professional collaboration (IPC) relative to that of students in a traditional clinical placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a mixed-methods design. The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) was administered to HCP students (n=36) in two Toronto hospitals before and after a structured 5-week IPE clinical placement to examine changes in their perceptions of IPC. Students in a traditional clinical placement (n=28) were used as a control group. Focus groups were then conducted with seven students who took part in the structured IPE clinical placement. A coding framework was devised a priori, and the qualitative results were used to explain the quantitative findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between groups after the structured IPE clinical placement, but the intervention group showed a greater positive trend in total IEPS scores from baseline to follow-up. Qualitative data suggest that students valued the knowledge and skills gained through the structured IPE clinical placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that structured IPE clinical placements may provide students with valuable collaborative learning opportunities, enhanced respect for other professionals, and insight into the value of IPC in healthcare delivery. More research is needed to explore other factors that influence specific perceptions among physical therapy students.
  
  
  
  Purpose:To examine how a structured inter-professional education (IPE) clinical placement influences health care professional (HCP) students' perceptions of inter-professional collaboration (IPC) relative to that of students in a traditional clinical placement.Methods:This study used a mixed-methods design. The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) was administered to HCP students (n=36) in two Toronto hospitals before and after a structured 5-week IPE clinical placement to examine changes in their perceptions of IPC. Students in a traditional clinical placement (n=28) were used as a control group. Focus groups were then conducted with seven students who took part in the structured IPE clinical placement. A coding framework was devised a priori, and the qualitative results were used to explain the quantitative findings.Results:There were no statistically significant differences between groups after the structured IPE clinical placement, but the intervention group showed a greater positive trend in total IEPS scores from baseline to follow-up. Qualitative data suggest that students valued the knowledge and skills gained through the structured IPE clinical placement.Conclusions:Findings suggest that structured IPE clinical placements may provide students with valuable collaborative learning opportunities, enhanced respect for other professionals, and insight into the value of IPC in healthcare delivery. More research is needed to explore other factors that influence specific perceptions among physical therapy students.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Pinto
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Lombardo
authors: Mariam
authors: M
authors: Salama
authors: Sandi
authors: S
authors: Ellis
authors: Theresa
authors: T
authors: Kay
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Davies
authors: Michel D
authors: MD
authors: Landry
keywords: IPE facilitation; Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS); clinical skills; facilitation de l'éducation interprofessionnelle; interprofessional relations; mixed methods; méthodes mixtes; stage interprofessionnel structuré; structured inter-professional placement; échelle de perception en éducation interdisciplinaire (IEPS); éducation clinique; éducation interprofessionnelle