title: The health mentors program: three years experience with longitudinal, patient-centered interprofessional education.
abstract: Increased emphasis on team care has accelerated interprofessional education (IPE) of health professionals. The health mentors program (HMP) is a required, longitudinal, interprofessional curriculum for all matriculating students from medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, and couple and family therapy. Volunteer lay health mentors serve as educators. Student teams complete four modules over 2 years. A mixed-methods approach has been employed since program inception, evaluating 2911 students enrolled in HMP from 2007 to 2013. Program impact on 577 students enrolled from 2009-2011 is reported. Two interprofessional scales were employed to measure attitudes toward IPE and attitudes toward interprofessional practice. Focus groups and reflection papers provide qualitative data. Students enter professional training with very positive attitudes toward IPE, which are maintained over 2 years. Students demonstrated significantly improved attitudes toward team care, which were not different across programs. Qualitative data suggested limited tolerance for logistic challenges posed by IPE, but strongly support that students achieved the major program goals of understanding the roles of colleagues and understanding the perspective of patients. Ongoing longitudinal evaluation will further elucidate the impact on future practice and patient outcomes.
authors: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia, PA , USA .
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Arenson
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Umland
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Collins
authors: Stephen B
authors: SB
authors: Kern
authors: Leigh Ann
authors: LA
authors: Hewston
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Jerpbak
authors: Reena
authors: R
authors: Antony
authors: Molly
authors: M
authors: Rose
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Lyons
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Interprofessional education; mixed-methods evaluation; patient-centered practice; person-centered care