Interprofessional education during the COVID-19 pandemic: finding the good in a bad situation

Tobie A. Jones, Graciela Vidal, Cynthia Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

COVID-19 restrictions necessitated wholescale conversion of curricula to online learning environments globally. We used a mixed-methods study design to evaluate the conversion of a large foundational interprofessional course, at our university, to an asynchronous online learning environment. A survey was used to gauge if students learned interprofessionally and about interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP). A COVID-19 discussion board was used to assess learner knowledge of their own and other health professions and value for IPCP. Survey results indicated students perceived the online session as effective as it would have been in person. The COVID-19 discussion board presented evidence that students met all Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies for IPCP, shared knowledge of their and other health professions, and expressed the value and essentiality of IPCP. Findings support social context as a main requisite for interprofessional education, and within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, students were able to heighten their connection to the global interprofessional community. Circumstances surrounding COVID-19 highlight the need for increasing IPCP education. One unforeseen positive that has emerged in spite of this global catastrophe is enhanced student awareness of IPCP and interprofessional comradery as evidenced through student discussions in this course.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)633-646
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Interprofessional Care
Volume34
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2 2020

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Interprofessional education
  • asynchronous
  • collaborative practice
  • online

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Interprofessional education during the COVID-19 pandemic: finding the good in a bad situation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this