Abstract
Background: In recent years, US healthcare policies and practices have stressed the significance of implementing interprofessional collaborative practices in educational and professional settings to improve the safety, affordability, and quality of healthcare. The purpose of this thesis project was to evaluate the effect of an Interprofessional Education (IPE) course, Doctoring 3, on Medical Doctor and Social Work alumnus competency of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP) using Interprofessional Educational Collaboratives (IPEC) competency standards.Methodology: A descriptive 47-item questionnaire was created to evaluate the effect. Statistical analysis from a total of 28 respondents indicate that participation in the Doctoring 3 course improved respondents’ competency of IPEC. Statistically significant differences were found in the competency areas of Communication and Teams between social work and medical participants.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Results from this study gave insight into alumnus’ participation and maintenance of IPCP within a healthcare setting. Furthermore, social work alumni had attained the ability to comprehend and appreciate Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), while providing a social work perspective within an interprofessional team setting. This study supports the notion that IPE is associated as a preceptor to IPCP. As a result, IPE should be incorporated into healthcare academia to develop interprofessional competence, enhance role clarity, and promote the ability to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team setting.