Shih-Ning Liaw1, Amy Sullivan2, Jennifer Snaman3, Marsha Joselow4, Janet Duncan5, Joanne Wolfe3. 1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Shih-Ning_Liaw@dfci.harvard.edu. 2. Program in Medical Education, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Social Work, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Courageous Parents Network, Newton, MA, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares clinicians for collaborative practice, yet little is known about the effectiveness of postgraduate IPE. OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to describe educational outcomes of an interprofessional fellowship in pediatric palliative care. Objectives were to understand the experiences of postgraduate trainees in an interprofessional, clinical environment and to evaluate program effect on interprofessional competencies. METHODS: In this mixed-methodology study, we surveyed former fellows from 2002 to 2018 about their fellowship experience and perceived change in interprofessional skills. We performed qualitative semantic content analysis of fellows' responses about learning in an interprofessional context. We compared fellows' self-rated ability (5-point Likert scale), before and after fellowship, in 10 interprofessional competencies selected from the Interprofessional Education Collaborative's core competencies. RESULTS: Response rate was 87% (41/47). 51% of respondents were physicians, 29% were social workers, and 20% were nurse practitioners. Respondents reported significant improvement in all 10 competencies, with summed mean scores of 2.8±0.6 pre-fellowship ("not very well prepared") and 4.4±0.4 post-fellowship ("very well" to "extremely well prepared") (t =15.6, p<.0001). Effect size for each competency was greater than 1.9 (strong positive impact). The fellowship experience was characterized by dynamic educational relationships: peer relationships with interprofessional co-fellows, mentoring relationships with faculty, clinical relationships with patients and families, and collaborative relationships with the healthcare system. Benefits and challenges of IPE were associated with interprofessional roles, teamwork, patient care, and educational needs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of an interprofessional postgraduate fellowship in preparing clinicians for collaborative practice.
CONTEXT: Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares clinicians for collaborative practice, yet little is known about the effectiveness of postgraduate IPE. OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to describe educational outcomes of an interprofessional fellowship in pediatric palliative care. Objectives were to understand the experiences of postgraduate trainees in an interprofessional, clinical environment and to evaluate program effect on interprofessional competencies. METHODS: In this mixed-methodology study, we surveyed former fellows from 2002 to 2018 about their fellowship experience and perceived change in interprofessional skills. We performed qualitative semantic content analysis of fellows' responses about learning in an interprofessional context. We compared fellows' self-rated ability (5-point Likert scale), before and after fellowship, in 10 interprofessional competencies selected from the Interprofessional Education Collaborative's core competencies. RESULTS: Response rate was 87% (41/47). 51% of respondents were physicians, 29% were social workers, and 20% were nurse practitioners. Respondents reported significant improvement in all 10 competencies, with summed mean scores of 2.8±0.6 pre-fellowship ("not very well prepared") and 4.4±0.4 post-fellowship ("very well" to "extremely well prepared") (t =15.6, p<.0001). Effect size for each competency was greater than 1.9 (strong positive impact). The fellowship experience was characterized by dynamic educational relationships: peer relationships with interprofessional co-fellows, mentoring relationships with faculty, clinical relationships with patients and families, and collaborative relationships with the healthcare system. Benefits and challenges of IPE were associated with interprofessional roles, teamwork, patient care, and educational needs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of an interprofessional postgraduate fellowship in preparing clinicians for collaborative practice.