title: Attitudes and Readiness of Students of Healthcare Professions towards Interprofessional Learning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the attitudes and readiness of students of healthcare professions towards interprofessional learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study design was used. Two different scales were used to measure the readiness for and perception of interprofessional learning; these were the 'Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale' and the 'Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale'. A convenience sampling method was employed. The sample was drawn from undergraduate students enrolled in years 1 to 5 of medical, dental, pharmacy and health sciences programme. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 83%. The students mentioned that shared learning with other healthcare professional students will increase their ability to understand clinical problems. The students also mentioned that such shared learning will help them to communicate better with patients and other professionals. The students preferred to work with individuals from their own profession. Participants from medical, dental, pharmacy, and health sciences had a difference in opinion about 'negative professional identity', a domain of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Based on the different year of study of the students, 'team work and collaboration', 'negative professional identity' and 'roles and responsibility' were the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale domains where students had a difference in opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attitudes and readiness towards interprofessional learning showed significant differences among students of various healthcare professions; these differences also depended on the students' year of study. Interprofessional learning should be incorporated in the curriculum of all healthcare professional programs, which may foster students to become competent healthcare providers and understand each profession's role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mari Kannan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6812-0533
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Maharajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kingston
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajiah
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suan Phaik
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Dinesh Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chellappan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Alwis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hui Cing
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Lui Lee
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yee Ning
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shin Yee
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D007858:Learning; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010465:Perception; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires