Interprofessional practices and readiness for interprofessional learning among health students and graduates in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: a cross-sectional study

Availability of residents and preceptors for interprofessional practices: mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

(1) The level of availability influences hospital interprofessional practices.

BACKGROUND

(2)  Difficulties in interprofessional communication impede collaborative practices.

BACKGROUND

(3)  There is resistance to the adoption of interprofessional practices related to education.

BACKGROUND

(4)  Residencies are important spaces to develop interprofessional practices.

to evaluate the level of availability of residents and preceptors for interprofessional practices.

mixed methods study of the concurrent triangulation type, carried out with residents and preceptors of a hospital Multiprofessional Residency in Health.

more than 90% (n=186) of participants are highly available for interprofessional practices. However, practices instituted during undergraduate studies and the professional profile of those involved, especially with regard to the lack of communication between professions and openness to dialogue, were indicated as difficulties in implementing interprofessionality in the scenario investigated, which may negatively influence the availability of residents and preceptors.

although residents and preceptors have high availability for the development of interprofessionality, certain factors make its implementation difficult, hindering collaborative work.

Characterization of interprofessional education experiences in health education at the University of São Paulo

OBJECTIVE

To map the experiences of Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Health at the São Paulo campus of the University of São Paulo.

METHOD

This is a descriptive, exploratory study with a quantitative approach and data collection through an online questionnaire addressed to teachers from eight teaching units and 14 health courses. The data was analyzed using absolute and percentage frequencies.

RESULTS

The majority of teachers do not take part in IPE experiences (70.4%). Most of the experiences are between six and ten years old, involving up to four teachers and small groups of students, mostly extracurricular or extension activities. The teaching and assessment strategies are diverse and open to students of all years.

CONCLUSION

IPE experiences involve a small number of students and teachers and, although consolidated in terms of the time they have been offered, are limited to extracurricular spaces. Factors such as improvements in institutional support and teacher development are pointed out as important for making progress in strengthening IPE in the analyzed context.

Readiness for interprofessional learning among health science students: a cross-sectional Q-methodology and likert-based study

BACKGROUND

Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares healthcare students for collaboration in clinical practice, but the effectiveness of this teaching method depends on students' readiness for and perceptions of IPE. Evaluating students' readiness for and perceptions of IPE is challenging, due to the lack of comprehensive measures. This study characterized the level of IPE readiness and perspectives across first-year undergraduate and graduate health science students using the readiness for interprofessional learning Likert Scale (RIPLS) and Q-methodologies.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional, online study. Students were randomized to answer the Likert-scale version of RIPLS (80%) or a matched Q-methodology survey (20%). An ANCOVA compared RIPLS scores between students from different program levels (graduate/undergraduate) and specialization (health professional and general programs). The Q-data was analysed using a by-person factor analysis.

RESULTS

Three hundred and four (33% response rate) and 71 (30% response rate) students completed the Likert scale and the Q-methodology surveys, respectively. Students from graduate programs demonstrated high readiness for IPE (higher total RIPLS scores p < 0.001) in comparison to undergraduates. Three factors, associated with program specialization (p = 0.04), emerged from the Q-methodology analysis characterizing students learning priorities. Students in undergraduate general programs were focused on IPE relevance and benefits to "the clinical team", students in graduate programs focused on "the patient", and those in undergraduate health professional programs focused on themselves ("me").

CONCLUSIONS

This novel mixed-methods approach combining traditional Likert-scales with Q-methodology elucidated not only associations between program and specialization with readiness (Likert) but also which components of IPE were valued the most (Q-methodology) and by whom.

Interprofessional education at a Brazilian public university: A document analysis

Background

Interprofessional Education is considered a necessary approach to develop skills for collaborative work in the training of professionals in order to improve the quality of health care. The curricula are the guiding documents for training and should explain how Interprofessional Education is adopted in undergraduate health courses.

Objective

To analyze curricula of undergraduate health courses, from the perspective of Interprofessional Education, in a Brazilian public university.

Design

Qualitative study of document analysis.

Settings

Undergraduate health courses at a Brazilian public university.

Methods

13 undergraduate health courses were analyzed. Data collection was conducted based on an adapted quality assessment script for Interprofessional Education. From the thematic content analysis, three analytical categories emerged.

Results

In the category "Curriculum organization and interprofessionality", the courses do not make free periods available in the curriculum, and each of the courses provide space for elective subjects at different times. In the category "Training guided by social reality and health needs" the courses propose training based on the health needs of patients from the Brazilian public health system. In the category "Learning for interprofessional action", the term "multiprofessional" characterizes learning for teamwork, with a discrete number of interprofessional disciplines.

Conclusions

The theoretical bases of IPE and organizational goals are necessary to establish training objectives, specific shared times, and mutual interests that are directed to interprofessionality. Interprofessional Education can be expanded from activities that already exist in the curricula of undergraduate courses.

Preceptor's perceptions about the teaching-learning process and collaborative practices in primary health care

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the perceptions of preceptors about the teaching-learning process, as well as the strengths and weaknesses to implement collaborative practices in Primary Health Care.

METHOD

Qualitative study carried out between October and December 2019 with 96 preceptors (surgeons- dentists, nurses and doctors) of the Family Health Strategy. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire and submitted to Content Analysis, using the Maxqda-2020 software.

RESULTS

Three categories were highlighted: 1. A new know-how needs to be taught to those who teach, 2. teaching and assisting in the preceptorship process and 3. person-centered approach: paradigm for collaborative work reveal difficulties and tensions in the preceptor work and collaborative practices.

CONCLUSION

The study identified the need to qualify preceptors with new approaches for the development of the teaching-learning process, for teamwork and collaborative interprofessional practices in the context of Primary Health Care.

Impact of public health and higher education policies on the profile of final-year Brazilian dental students: Challenges and future developments

INTRODUCTION

Brazil has experienced transformations in higher education and health services, including launching more inclusive public policies focused on these two areas.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the profile of final-year dental students from a Brazilian public university from 2010 to 2019, accompanied by changes in public health and higher education policies.

METHODS

A prospective observacional study was carried out with final-year dental students. A self-applicable semi-structured questionnaire was applied.

RESULT

Six-hundred and seventy-seven students participated, of which 71.5% were women, 72.9% aged between 21 and 25 years, 96.2% single, and 96.4% were without children. Over ten years, it was possible to identify trends in the profile explained by implementing public policies toward more inclusive access to Brazilian higher education by socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Students who completed the course between 2018 and 2019 did not have the state capital city (the wealthiest area) as their origin city and had lower parental education and income levels than dental students graduating between 2010 and 2011. Moreover, working as a primary care dentist in the Brazilian National Health System was considered a professional possibility by 61.4% of the students, and has gained prominence significantly over time, ranging from 21.1% in 2010 to 72.9% in 2019 (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Over the study period, concomitantly to advances in public health and higher education policies in Brazil, more diverse access to public dental education was observed, allowing students from low socioeconomic positions to take the education. Changes have also impacted the students' perspectives regarding the need for postgraduate training and a career in public health dentistry. However, these trends need to be consolidated, and public policies continued and strengthened.

Interprofessional education in the Dentistry curriculum: Analysis of a teaching-service-community integration experience

INTRODUCTION

Interprofessional education (IPE) offers relevant theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches to the development of effective teamwork competencies.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse an interprofessional experience of teaching-service-community integration carried out at a public university in the South of Brazil.

METHODS

A case study with a qualitative approach was carried out. The study's participants were thirty-eight undergraduate dental students who attended the IPE activity between 2012 and 2019. Data collection was developed in two sequential steps that included the application of an online instrument and semi-structured interviews. The textual material was interpreted by content analysis, considering Kirkpatrick's evaluation levels (reaction, learning and behaviour).

RESULTS

In the reaction level, students highlighted the contents provided by the National Curricular Guidelines regarding public health system and teamwork, as well as the pedagogical teaching proposal by tutoring groups, which stimulated students' autonomy. It was observed that the learning was geared towards the development of collaborative teamwork competencies and cultural competencies. In the behaviour level, students perceived positive changes in their attitudes and behaviours towards patients, focused on needs related to life conditions, realising that dentists may work within a team. The elective/optional nature of the experience allied with the absence of other IPE activities in the curricular grid showed to be challenging.

CONCLUSION

IPE in undergraduate education presented positive results related to the reaction, learning and behaviour of dental students. We recommend the inclusion of interprofessional activities of teaching-service-community integration in Dentistry curricular structure to complement uniprofessional education.

Percepções do preceptor sobre o processo ensino-aprendizagem e práticas colaborativas na atenção primária à saúde

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar as percepções dos preceptores acerca do processo ensino-aprendizagem, bem como as fortalezas e as fragilidades para implementar as práticas colaborativas na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Método Pesquisa qualitativa, desenvolvida entre outubro e dezembro de 2019 com 96 preceptores (cirurgiões-dentistas, enfermeiros e médicos) da Estratégia de Saúde da Família. Os dados foram obtidos através de questionário e submetidos a Análise de Conteúdo, utilizando o software Maxqda-2020. Resultados Foram evidenciadas três categorias: 1. Um novo saber-fazer precisa ser ensinado a quem ensina, 2. o ensinar e o assistir no processo da preceptoria e 3. abordagem centrada na pessoa: paradigma para o trabalho colaborativo revelam dificuldades e tensões no trabalho do preceptor e de práticas colaborativas. Conclusão O estudo identificou a necessidade de qualificar os preceptores com novas abordagens para o desenvolvimento do processo ensino-aprendizagem, para o trabalho em equipe e práticas interprofissionais colaborativas no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde.