Abstract
Objectives/Intent: To evaluate how an interprofessional health promotion course for a vulnerable population impacts students' perceptions of interprofessional teams. To provide learning opportunity for undergraduate students to collaborate with graduate health science students to simulate real-world differences in inter-professional health teams.|Methods/Process: In its second offering, 27 students enrolled in the semester-long course (3 social work, 9 exercise science, 2 nurse practitioner, 6 occupational therapy, 7 pharmacy). The students were divided into four teams each assigned a client with complex health and social issues. They engaged in learning activities, discussed team skills, and developed a collaborative agreement. Students' perceptions were gathered through end-of-course reflection questions and focus group discussion.|Results/Outcomes: Qualitative data was collected from student reflections and theme analysis was conducted by pharmacy faculty with expertise in interprofessional education and community engagement. Seventy-seven percent of the students spoke of the benefit of working on teams, 96% gained a better understanding of other professions, 100% expressed the importance of keeping the focus on the patient, and 65% understand effectively communicating with patients and team members is a priority. |Implications: The themed analysis shows that students embraced the Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice, Roles/Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, and Teams and Teamwork). This course provides students the opportunity to collaborate in teams in providing health care to patients in a vulnerable population who have limited access to health care.