title: Readiness for interprofessional learning among healthcare professional students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate attitudes toward interprofessional learning among first year medical, nursing, and physician associate students at an American university at the start of their training.
  
  
  METHODS
  First year medical (n=101), nursing (n=81), and physician associate (n=35) students were invited to complete an anonymous online survey which included items related to demographic information and the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Scores were compared by the general linear model and Duncan's multiple range test while controlling for demographic differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three groups scored in the high range, indicating readiness for shared learning. Female students, those with advanced degrees, and those with healthcare experience prior to enrolment in health professional school had significantly higher scores than their counterparts. After controlling for differences in demographic factors, nursing students scored significantly higher than physician associate and medical students (F = 6.22, 0.0025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professions students demonstrated readiness for interprofessional learning early in their academic programs, however important differences in baseline readiness emerged. These findings suggest that educators consider baseline attitudes of students when designing interprofessional education curricula, and use caution when extrapolating data from other geographies or cultures.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jaideep S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Talwalkar
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care/Health Systems, Yale School of Nursing, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Fahs
authors.affiliation: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California Davis, Educ Bldg, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kayingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care/Health Systems, Yale School of Nursing, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Sangchoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Division of Acute Care/Health Systems, Yale School of Nursing, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Honan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Interprofessional education; attitudes; readiness; students