Interdisciplinary Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Interprofessional Model for Administering a Kindergarten Screening in Southwest Virginia.
Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to identify the healthcare professionals and the entry level physical and occupational therapy students’ perceptions of an interdisciplinary approach in the developmental screening of children during their physical exam by a pediatrician prior to entering kindergarten.
Number of Subjects: 92
Materials and Methods:
The materials utilized in this study is the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) for pre interprofessional encounter and post interprofessional encounter between pediatricians, nurse practitioners, pediatric office staff, PT and OT faculty, and first and second year PT and OT students. A general demographic survey was completed to determine, age, gender, ethnicity, highest level of education, previous interprofessional collaborative opportunities, current professional role at time of survey and length of time in current role.
Results: Results are currently in the process of data analysis as the 2019 kindergarten screenings will not end until August 22. Currently trends have been analyzed, with preliminary data from cohort 1 and 2, to reflect that incoming new entry level physical and occupational therapy students do not have prior experience with interprofessional interactions and expectations but expect positive interactions between students and other healthcare professionals. Future results will show how students rated their own professions in areas of competence/autonomy, cooperative behaviors, perception of actual cooperation and understanding of other healthcare professionals values.
Conclusions: Once our final data is collected after August 22, our conclusions will help to report similarities and difference among the cohorts of physical, occupational therapy students and faculty, pediatricians, nurse practitioners and pediatrician office staff.
Clinical Relevance: This study will provide data about the use of the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) as a tool to evaluate interprofessional educational attitudes between physical and occupational therapy students and faculty, pediatricians, nurse practitioners and pediatrician office staff.