title: Integrating executive coaching and simulation to promote interprofessional education of health care students.
abstract: This study used executive coaching and simulation to enhance interprofessional teamwork by promoting collaboration and leadership capacity in health professional students attending undergraduate programs. A mixed methods approach to program evaluation was used. A statistically significant (p<0.05) increase was noted pre- and post-program on the Team Assessment Inventory. Qualitative analysis of reflective essays and focus group interviews revealed that students participated as a career-building opportunity and because they wanted to gain a better appreciation for the roles and contributions of other health care providers. The themes that emerged related to aspects of the process students found helpful, lessons learned about professional roles, and the meaning of leadership in the context of interprofessional teams. Students also provided recommendations for future studies. Findings suggest that integrating executive coaching and simulation in interprofessional education may have the potential to create meaningful experiences for health professional students. While more empirical research is needed to investigate this potential, in terms of how executive coaching and simulation may increase professional collaborative care and improve the quality of health care delivery, the initial insights seem promising.
authors.affiliation: MSHS Program in Health Care Quality, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA. ekmekci@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekmekci
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plack
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pintz
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bocchino
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LeLacheur
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halvaksz
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004219:District of Columbia; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research