Building Capacity for Interprofessional Learning in Clinical Placements: Reflections on Developing an Evidence Base for Learning, Teaching and Collaborative Research

In an age of complex patient needs, the ability to communicate and collaborate for effective patient care has never been a more important attribute of healthcare graduates. This project sought to develop and implement a suite of interprofessional learning (IPL) activities to be implemented in a range of clinical learning settings. A series (n=12) of IPL activities for medical, nursing and allied health students (n=62) were developed by a team of multidisciplinary clinicians and educators and delivered through clinical placements over 12 months. These activities were in the areas of acute care, health literacy, pharmacology, diabetes management, cardio-rehabilitation, health promotion, nutrition, cancer management and primary care. Each activity was developed to address a range of clinical skills and competencies and included diverse methodological approaches to teaching and learning. IPL capabilities for effective collaboration and disciplinary practice were targeted, including clinical skills and knowledge, patient care, collaboration, ethics and best practice. The activities were evaluated through a mixed method approach The evaluation found that students and facilitators from a variety of disciplines recognized the importance of collaborative learning in the areas of patient care and planning and a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different health profession.