The Effects of a Single Event Interprofessional Education (IPE) Experience on Occupational Therapy Students' Attitudes Toward IPE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of a single interprofessional education (IPE) seminar on student attitudes toward interprofessional education (IPE) at a small northeastern university that housed an entry-level Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. Method: Investigators used the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) to determine attitudes of thirty-six MOT students after attending an interprofessional seminar. Results: Participant response rate of MOT students was 88.9% percent. The analysis of data revealed no significant differences between MOT student attitudes toward IPE pre and post IPE seminar. Conclusion: Several factors are discussed that may have contributed to the lack of statistical differences. Growing interest in IPE related to clinical care warrants explorations into various issues raised by this study regarding implications for health care professional education, training, and patient care. INTRODUCTION25 years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the need for collaboration of health care professionals to achieve maximal patient outcomes. 1 Academic institutions in the United States, having recognized the potential benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) conducted in Canada and Europe, have begun implementation of IPE among health care students.