title: Why we need more research into interprofessional education.
abstract: Interprofessional education (IPE) has long been considered an important means of improving communication and interaction between health professionals and of addressing patient safety concerns. This study aimed to explore whether a high-fidelity (HF) simulator could enhance a postgraduate IPE session on team-working and communication skills. A convenience sample of six doctors and six nurses, all recently qualified and working in an acute care setting, participated in teams of one nurse and one doctor in a typical clinical case scenario using a HF simulator. Pre-and post-test questionnaires and two focus groups were used to gather views on the IPE session. All of the participants agreed that all aspects of the IPE activity-the HF simulation, the scenarios and the debriefing-were 'effective' in attracting and retaining interest and attention. Future larger-scale research needs a more objective approach, such as a consideration of patient-related impact and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Director of Education, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traynor
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galanouli
authors.affiliation: Professor in Education, School of Education, University of Stirling.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Consultant Anaesthetist, Department of Anaesthesia, Ulster Hospital.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Curriculum; Interprofessional education; Nurse education; Surveys and questionnaires