DefinePK

Research Objective

To assess the impact of a Team-Based Learning (TBL) intervention on healthcare students' readiness for Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Pakistan.

Methodology

A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Islam Medical & Dental College, Islam College of Nursing, Pharmacy & Physiotherapy, Sialkot, Pakistan, from April to September 2023. First-year students from Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy participated. A Team-Based Learning (TBL) intervention was implemented, including multidisciplinary teams, Individual Readiness Assurance Tests (IRAT), Team Readiness Assurance Tests (TRAT), and problem-solving exercises. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaire was administered pre and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and SPSS Version 26. Learning gains were calculated using Barwood et al.'s method.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Recruit First-Year Healthcare Students"] --> B["Administer Pre-Intervention RIPLS Questionnaire"];
    B --> C["Conduct Team-Based Learning"TBL" Intervention"];
    C --> D["Administer Post-Intervention RIPLS Questionnaire"];
    D --> E["Analyze Data using Paired t-tests and SPSS"];
    E --> F["Calculate Learning Gains"];
    F --> G["Report Findings and Conclusions"];                    

Discussion

The study suggests that IPE interventions, like TBL, have a promising impact on healthcare students' readiness for interprofessional collaboration, even if statistical significance is not always achieved, possibly due to high baseline readiness (ceiling effect). The observed learning gains and qualitative feedback indicate practical benefits in teamwork and communication skills. The findings highlight the need for customized IPE approaches that consider the diversity of healthcare disciplines and individual student characteristics.

Key Findings

The overall mean RIPLS score increased from 74.49±10.6 pre-intervention to 76.87±10.4 post-intervention, though this change was not statistically significant (p=0.518). A 23.53% learning gain was observed. Discipline-specific analyses showed some positive trends in readiness, particularly in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Nursing, though statistical significance was not consistently reached.

Conclusion

IPE interventions positively influence healthcare students' readiness for interprofessional collaboration. The study underscores the need for tailored IPE approaches to maximize benefits across different healthcare disciplines and improve interprofessional collaboration in healthcare.

Fact Check

1. Study Duration: The study was conducted from April to September 2023. (Confirmed in text)
2. Sample Size: 104 responses were used for statistical analysis. (Confirmed in text)
3. Overall Mean Score Change: The overall mean RIPLS score increased from 74.49±10.6 to 76.87±10.4. (Confirmed in text)

Mind Map