Extending conceptual understanding : how interprofessional education influences affective domain development

Background: Interprofessional learning (IPL) can influence affective domain development of students, through teaching activities that facilitate learning with, from and about other professions. Current quantitative evidence offers limited explanation of how this learning is achieved within IPL programmes. This original paper tests a conceptual framework drawn from theories on IPL and affective domain development (attitudes, values and behaviours) to explain what works for whom, when and in what circumstances. Methods: The objectives of the study were twofold: to evaluate the impact of the IPL programme on the student’s attitudes and values, and identify behaviour changes in clinical practice towards interprofessional working. Using an action research approach, based in practice, an IPL programme was delivered over six weeks. Students from five professional disciplines: nursing, radiography, physiotherapy, social work, and podiatry (n=63) participated over the two action research cycles and in semi structured focus groups (n=37). Results: The recorded personal experiences of the IPL activities on the students were examined in relation to the: type of activity; impact on the affective domain of learning (attitude, value, or behaviour) and self-reported outcome on application to their practice. Modification in affective domain development was measured to identification or internalisation stage for 30 of the students. Self-reported outcomes on application to practice included direct impact on patient care, personal resilience building, improved communication and ability to challenge practice. Conclusion: This paper presents a conceptual framework not evident in current research, in regards to what IPL works for whom, in what circumstances and when. IPL Activities that address a personal reward or incentive and are delivered over 4 weeks, imitating ‘circles of care,’ that explore self-assessment, team building and reflection can lead to sustained change in values, attitudes and behaviours. Keywords: Action Research, Interprofessional Education, Interprofessional learning, Health and Social care, Collaboration

Abiotic conditions in cephalopod (Sepia officinalis) eggs: embryonic development at low pH and high pCO2

Low pO(2) values have been measured in the perivitelline fluids (PVF) of marine animal eggs on several occasions, especially towards the end of development, when embryonic oxygen consumption is at its peak and the egg case acts as a massive barrier to diffusion. Several authors have therefore suggested that oxygen availability is the key factor leading to hatching. However, there have been no measurements of PVF pCO(2) so far. This is surprising, as elevated pCO(2) could also constitute a major abiotic stressor for the developing embryo. As a first attempt to fill this gap in knowledge, we measured pO(2), pCO(2) and pH in the PVF of late cephalopod (Sepia officinalis) eggs. We found linear relationships between embryo wet mass and pO(2), pCO(2) and pH. pO(2) declined from > 12 kPa to less than 5 kPa, while pCO(2) increased from 0.13 to 0.41 kPa. In the absence of active accumulation of bicarbonate in the PVF, pH decreased from 7.7 to 7.2. Our study supports the idea that oxygen becomes limiting in cephalopod eggs towards the end of development; however, pCO(2) and pH shift to levels that have caused significant physiological disturbances in other marine ectothermic animals. Future research needs to address the physiological adaptations that enable the embryo to cope with the adverse abiotic conditions in their egg environment

Interprofessional working in practice – educating for the future: The development of the Salford Collaborative Learning in Practice (CLIP) model

The project sought to introduce an interprofessional training programme for 3rd year pre-registration students across a range of professional groups. The programme was developed collaboratively with three National Health Service (NHS) sites. Practice education facilitators (PEFs), social work and voluntary sector equivalents and lecturers were involved in developing the content and pedagogic approach. The programme ran over a period of six weeks and was delivered on Trust premises each week to a range of 50 pre-registration 3rd year students from different professional disciplines: nursing (adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities), physiotherapy, podiatry and social work (although the social work students were studying at masters level – structural issues meant that it was not possible for BA social work students to participate on this occasion). Once the students had completed the programme, they were invited to participate in a focus group to obtain their views about the training. Each site has a dedicated PEF who participated in the development, delivery, and evaluation of the programme. From the 50 initially recruited, 23 students from the different professional groups volunteered to participate in the focus group. Four PEFs were involved in the development of the programme and participated in the study evaluation. A mixed methods exploratory case study using an action research approach was used to fully explore the development, impact and utility of the Interprofessional Learning Training Programme (ILTP). The research, predominantly qualitative in nature, sought to capture the students’ experiences of the ILTP and the PEFs’ experience of being involved in the ILTP

Successful arthroscopic treatment of shoulder osteochondrosis in the dog

Fourteen shoulder joints in 12 dogs were treated arthroscopically for osteochondrosis. The arthroscopic procedure included removal of all osteochondral flaps and curettage of the edges of the subchondral defect. Histological examination of biopsy samples from eight joints revealed synovitis in all cases. Arthroscopic surgery of shoulder osteochondrosis in the dog proved to be a less time consuming procedure than arthrotomy with minimal soft tissue trauma and allowed a rapid return to function of the patients