Achieving Interprofessional Education Goals with Technology

Tuesday, 19 November 2013: 8:30 AM

Joyce P. Griffin-Sobel, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF
College of Nursing, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Pamela Y. Mahon, PhD, RN, ANEF, CNE
Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College / CUNY, New York, NY

Learning Objective 1: describe 3 types of technology that advance collaboration and communication in IPE

Learning Objective 2: describe 3 barriers to IPE that can be removed with technological tools

The PURPOSE of this presentation will be to describe the technologies which effectively supported the achievement of interprofessional education (IPE) outcomes in a year-long curriculum involving graduate and undergraduate nursing, medical, social work and public health students. Data from 3 years of curricula will be presented.

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional health professional education is the paradigm that schools of nursing are striving to achieve. There is good evidence that health care provided in teams of professionals is associated with better patient outcomes.   Some attempts at achieving interprofessional education have failed to achieve measurable or sustainable effects because they were too short, voluntary, lacked substantive content or did not have a rigorous evaluation plan. Innovative methods for teaching, communication and evaluation are needed for IPE to demonstrate sustainability.

METHODS: Technological tools were extensively used during this program to facilitate the development of student and team relationships, development and refinement of communication skills during difficult conversations and error disclosure, and learning about roles in each discipline.  A comprehensive logic model was developed for evaluation, and sentiment analysis from social media forums (Twitter, wikis, discussion boards) yielded substantive quantitative and qualitative data from students and faculty. An instrument was developed to measure effectiveness of technological tools, and attitudes, behaviors and skills were identified that advance or obstruct collaboration and communication in IPE. 

RESULTS Twitter and social media were demonstrated to be the most effective methods for communication among interprofessional teams.  Results also include specific behaviors and skills that advance or obstruct collaboration and communication in IPE.   These and other key elements of collaboration and transdisciplinary practice will be discussed.

CONCLUSIONS Technological tools are effective mediators for achieving IPE goals.