title: Interprofessional education in the integrated medical education and health care system: A content analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current literature supports the inclusion of inter-professional education in healthcare education. Changes in the structure and nature of the integrated medical education and healthcare system provide some opportunities for interprofessional education among various professions. This study is an attempt to determine the perceptions of students and faculty members about interprofessional education in the context of the medical education and healthcare system.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative content analysis study was conducted using purposeful sampling in 2012. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 faculty members and 7 students at Tehran and Iran Universities of Medical Sciences. Data collection and analysis were concurrent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed four categories and nine subcategories. The categories emerging from individual interviews were "educational structure", "mediating factors", "conceptual understanding", and "professional identity". These categories are explained using quotes derived from the data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Matching the existing educational context and structure with IPE through removing barriers and planning to prepare the required resources and facilities can solve numerous problems associated with implementation and design of inter-professional training programs in Iran.  In this way, promoting the development of a cooperative rather than a competitive learning and working atmosphere should be taken into account. The present findings will assist the managers and policy makers to consider IPE as a useful strategy in the integrated medical education and healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khabaz Mafinejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, School of Medical Education, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Soleiman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmady
authors.affiliation: Center for Educational Research in Medical Sciences (CERMS), Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Kamran
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Soltani Arabshahi
authors.affiliation: Center for Educational Research in Medical Sciences (CERMS), Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shoaleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bigdeli
keywords: Interprofessional relations; Medical education; Qualitative research