title: Interprofessional student teams augmenting service provision in residential aged care.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of student-led interprofessional consultations within residential aged care in augmenting patient care and enhancing student education. Volunteer fourth and final year health-care students conducted interprofessional consultations. In a mixed methods design, residents' health-care changes and perspectives were collected prospectively, and student and educator perceptions were measured by survey and interview. Sixteen aged care residents were consulted by interprofessional teams. Students identified two new health issues and proposed 17 recommendations for referrals and five changes to medication management. At six-weeks follow-up, two recommendations had been acted upon clinically, and two medication changes had been implemented. Reasons for the low uptake of recommendations were determined. Residents, students and educators reported high levels of satisfaction. Residential care facilities offer a useful interprofessional learning environment. Student consultations are positively regarded by patients, students and educators and may augment existing health services.
authors.affiliation: HealthPEER (Health Professional Education and Educational Research), Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. fiona.kent@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: HealthPEER (Health Professional Education and Educational Research), Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beovich
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dodic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: collaborative practice; interprofessional education; patient-centred care; residential aged care; undergraduate