The rural elderly assessment project: a model for interdisciplinary team training.

SUMMARY The Rural Elderly Assessment Project (REAP) was designed to train occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and public health faculty and students to conduct interdisciplinary team health assessments with rural, community-dwelling older adults. This article highlights key features of the project's design and implementation and presents preliminary evaluation data from the 25 students who participated in the project. Students completed several pre- and post-test measures. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all but one of the knowledge, skill, and attitude domains that were specifically targeted by the project. Students identified a variety of benefits they received from participating in the project, and all students indicated that they would recommend the project to another student. Implications for project replication and interdisciplinary team training of allied health students are discussed.