Health and social care professionals’ attitudes to interprofessional working and interprofessional education: A literature review

Veronica O'Carroll (Lead / Corresponding author), Linda McSwiggan, Martin Campbell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    39 Citations (Scopus)
    1079 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The healthcare setting is a rich learning environment for students to experience interprofessional working (IPW) and interprofessional education (IPE). However, opportunities for IPE are limited, and student experiences of effective IPW are varied. This raises the question of how IPW and IPE are valued by health or social care professionals. A search of the literature was carried out to identify studies of health and social care staff attitudes to IPW and IPE. This review provides a summary of the main factors found to influence attitudes and the strengths and limitations of these studies. Professional background and prior IPE experience were identified as the influencing factors for which there is most evidence. The main limitations of the studies accessed included a focus on the value of IPE for staff, as opposed to students, and a limited number of studies considering the relationship between attitudes to IPW and the value placed on IPE. It is important that health and social care professionals lead by example by working collaboratively and providing students with opportunities for IPE. Identifying the variables influencing attitudes to IPW and IPE may assist in improving IPW and experiences of IPE for students learning in the healthcare setting.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)42-49
    Number of pages8
    JournalJournal of Interprofessional Care
    Volume30
    Issue number1
    Early online date28 Dec 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Keywords

    • Health and social care
    • interprofessional education
    • interprofessional practice
    • interprofessional research
    • systematic review
    • work-based learning

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Medicine

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