Effect of team-based learning in interprofessional education at a health university

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of interprofessional education (IPE) using team-based learning (TBL). Methods: We analyzed the results of a scale to measure IPE among 449 fourth-year students from seven faculties of a health university in Japan. The students took the Assembly Special Lesson as part of IPE using TBL. Before and after the lesson, the participants completed a questionnaire, which consisted of the IPE Tsukuba Model, to which we added two items. The scale was divided into five domains. We compared the scores using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The overall scores of four of the five domains of the IPE evaluation were significantly higher after the lesson than before (P<0.05): "Understanding the role of each profession's specialization" ; "Regarding participation in group work" ; "Thoughts regarding the team in healthcare and welfare" ; and "Feelings about cooperation among different professions." Conclusions: It was evident that the lesson enhanced the students' understanding of the role of other professionals, enabled them to participate in group work, and allowed them to understand the responsibilities of each profession within a team, thereby leading to greater cooperation and better health care. This TBL for IPE was found to be effective by producing valuable changes in perceptions and attitudes toward professional cooperation among students.

Keywords

• interprofessional education
• team-based learning
• medical and health care