Effects of a cross-university interprofessional education programme on nursing students : a concurrent nested study

Abstract

Background: Interprofessional collaborative practice has caused considerable interest but the effects of integrating interprofessional education (IPE) into a nursing therapeutics subject have not been investigated. Aim: To evaluate students’ attitudes, knowledge, skills, competency in interprofessional collaboration, and experiences in IPE. Methods: A concurrent nested design was adopted. Students were assessed using scales before and after the programme. A focus group interview was also conducted. Results: Among 159 nursing students, a statistically significant increase after the programme was found in knowledge of the roles and scopes of medicine, social work, pharmacy, traditional Chinese medicine, engineering, and law (p < 0.05), interprofessional team skills (p < 0.001), and competency (p < 0.001). Four main categories were identified: ‘‘thoughts on interprofessional collaboration,’’ ‘‘gains from the education programme,’’ ‘‘barriers to a positive learning experience,’’ and ‘‘working towards a better learning experience.’’ Conclusion: IPE had positive effects on students. The results provide valuable insights for educators to integrate IPE into the nursing curriculum.