Interprofessional education: a pilot study of rehabilitation sciences students participating in interdisciplinary international service-learning

J Allied Health. 2013 Fall;42(3):e61-6.

Abstract

Various models of interprofessional education, including service-learning, are used to teach students how to be effective members of healthcare teams. The purpose of this study was to examine pilot data related to the impact of an elective one-credit global health course with an international service-learning experience (ISL) on the student participants. An interdisciplinary team of 3 faculty accompanied 4 students representing occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs for an 8-day ISL experience. Students responded to faculty-developed reflection questions pre-travel, during travel, and 2-weeks and 4-months post travel. Content analysis was used to analyze themes that emerged from the students' written reflections. Three major themes emerged: collaboration, satisfaction, and self-discovery. The most prominent theme was related to interprofessional collaboration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Communication
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Emotions
  • Humans
  • International Educational Exchange*
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Models, Educational*
  • Occupational Therapy / education
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration*
  • Physical Therapy Specialty / education
  • Pilot Projects
  • Rehabilitation / education*
  • Speech-Language Pathology / education