Interprofessional education workshop on aging: Student perceptions of interprofessional collaboration, cultural fluency, and aging

Abstract

Interprofessional education is vital to prepare students in healthcare-related fields for future practice to improve participation in teams and enhance client/patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a half-day interprofessional education workshop on aging based on students’ self-rated confidence in working in interprofessional teams, with aging, and culturally diverse clients/patients. Students from eight healthcare-related disciplines at a private mid-western university attended an interprofessional workshop. Afterward, students completed a reflective survey to evaluate pre- and post-workshop perceptions about interprofessional collaboration and caring for aging and diverse clients/patients. Quantitative methods using paired sample t-tests revealed a statistically significant difference in students’ self-reported level of preparedness in the areas of interprofessional education, aging, and cultural fluency (P \u3c .001). In addition, qualitative methods were used to organize data into themes. Additional insights were gained to inform future workshops