Students’ understanding of teamwork and professional roles after interprofessional simulation—a qualitative analysis
Open Access
- 8 April 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Advances in Simulation
- Vol. 2 (1), 1-8
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-017-0041-6
Abstract
This study explores how interprofessional simulation-based education (IPSE) can contribute to a change in students’ understanding of teamwork and professional roles. A series of 1-day training sessions was arranged involving undergraduate nursing and medical students. Scenarios were designed for practicing teamwork principles and interprofessional communication skills by endorsing active participation by all team members. Four focus groups occurred 2–4 weeks after the training. Thematic analysis of the transcribed focus groups was applied, guided by questions on what changes in students’ understanding of teamwork and professional roles were identified and how such changes had been achieved. The first question, aiming to identify changes in students’ understanding of teamwork, resulted in three categories: realizing and embracing teamwork fundamentals, reconsidering professional roles, and achieving increased confidence. The second question, regarding how participation in IPSE could support the transformation of students’ understanding of teamwork and of professional roles, embraced another three categories: feeling confident in the learning environment, embodying experiences, and obtaining an outside perspective. This study showed the potential of IPSE to transform students’ understanding of others’ professional roles and responsibilities. Students displayed extensive knowledge on fundamental teamwork principles and what these meant in the midst of participating in the scenarios. A critical prerequisite for the development of these new insights was to feel confident in the learning environment. The significance of how the environment was set up calls for further research on the design of IPSE in influencing role understanding and communicative skills in significant ways.Keywords
Funding Information
- Sahlgrenska Akademin
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Interprofessional education in primary care for the elderly: a pilot studyBMC Medical Education, 2013
- Interprofessional simulated learning: the need for ‘sociological fidelity’Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2011
- Interprofessional collaboration: three best practice models of interprofessional educationMedical Education Online, 2011
- Students' reflections on shadowing interprofessional teamwork: a Norwegian case studyJournal of Interprofessional Care, 2010
- Establishing the Climate for a Successful DebriefingClinical Simulation in Nursing, 2010
- The teaching of a structured tool improves the clarity and content of interprofessional clinical communicationQuality and Safety in Health Care, 2009
- Role understanding and effective communication as core competencies for collaborative practiceJournal of Interprofessional Care, 2009
- Simulation in interprofessional education for patient‐centred collaborative careJournal of Advanced Nursing, 2008
- The qualitative content analysis processJournal of Advanced Nursing, 2008
- Using thematic analysis in psychologyQualitative Research in Psychology, 2006