Interprofessional understanding reaps rewards

Since 2004, Professor Claire Jackson from Mater Centre for Integrated Health Care and General Practice and a UQ team have been researching the benefits of team or interprofessional learning (IPL) for undergraduate students studying medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.

Conducted at Mater Health Services, this research involved 102 students from these seven different health professions. The results reported signify an increase in knowledge across all areas of interest and attitudinal changes to working with other professions.

In 2006, the team added a multidisciplinary care plan task to the activity. Through this plan the team has recently been successful in securing funding from The University of Queensland's Faculty Teaching and Learning's Fellowship Scheme for 2006/2007 to work toward a single frame work for assessing the care plans, consistent across all disciplines.

According to Professor Claire Jackson, interprofessional education plays a significant role in breaking down traditional professional boundaries and allows a shared understanding of decision making processes across the different health care sub specialities.

“Through our project, students, teachers and expert health professionals will collaborate to foster interprofessional knowledge and skills to enhance patient care,” Professor Jackson said.

Once concluded, the results of project will be published in leading journals in interprofessional health care and medical education.