Interprofessional health care - field of study with future and challenges / Interprofessionelle Versorgung – Ein Studiengebiet mit Zukunft und Herausforderungen
Article Category: Research Articles
Published Online: May 12, 2016
Page range: 37 - 46
Received: Dec 15, 2015
Accepted: Mar 16, 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ijhp-2016-0009
© 2016 Hollweg Wibke et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Background
At Alice Salomon University in Berlin, the project «Healthcare Professionals - Bachelor for Interprofessional Healthcare and Management» aims at developing a joint online, part-time study course for nursing staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.
Objectives
Based on innovative learning modules, the study course aims at improving inter-professional cooperation in healthcare, thus enhancing the quality of care for patients.
Questions
Do executives and professionals see a need for action with regard to interprofessional healthcare? How can employers support part-time students attending the study course alongside employment? Which requirements should the study course meet in terms of contents and structure to balance studies and employment?
Methods
Quantitative online survey among executives and professionals using questionnaires. A descriptive approach was employed to evaluate the quantitative data statistically.
Results
The executives› survey confirmed a definite need for enhanced skills acquired through higher education and revealed a strong wish for more interprofessional cooperation than what is commonly practiced in healthcare today. Innovative study formats and cooperation on the part of the employers are necessary to balance work and studies.
Discussion
The challenge now is conceptualizing a study course that promotes the online development of interprofessional and scientific skills, imparts future-oriented and practice-relevant contents and is flexible to accommodate the needs of employed, part-time students.