title: Interprofessional curriculum development achieves results: Initial evidence from a dementia-care protocol.
abstract: This report describes the outcomes of a five-day, protocol-based interprofessional education (IPE) initiative to prepare undergraduate medical, nursing, and paramedic students for collaborative work with adults with dementia. Clinical placements provided a structured and supervised IPE experience for 127 students in two Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) in Hobart, Australia, during 2013 and 2014. The IPE activity was based on a seven-step protocol formulated by an interprofessional team of educators and aged care practitioners that revolved around collaborative assessments of adults with complex health needs. This article describes the IPE protocol and presents the results of a pre- and post-placement attitude questionnaire and knowledge quiz administered to evaluate student attitudes towards IPE and knowledge of dementia. Data suggest that a five-day, supervised, and protocol-based IPE experience in a dementia-care setting can inculcate positive changes in student attitudes about collaborative practice and may encourage dementia-related learning outcomes.
authors.affiliation: a Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Health Science , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.
authors.forename: Michael James
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Annear
authors.affiliation: a Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Health Science , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.
authors.forename: Lynette R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: b School of Medicine , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: a Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, Faculty of Health Science , University of Tasmania , Hobart , Tasmania , Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D018794:Problem-Based Learning
keywords: Interprofessional care; interprofessional education; pre-qualifying; surveys