PURPOSE
The Interprofessional Training in Empathy, Affect, & Mindfulness (I-TEAM™) is a semester-long interprofessional program that engages health profession students in various “workouts” to cultivate and enhance the attributes and practices associated with the empathic experience, patient-and colleague-centeredness, team-based skills, overall well-being and presence, and fundamental communication skills. I-TEAM™ represents an innovative and engaging method of cultivating (inter)professional identity and provides opportunities for health professions to express vulnerability and openness with and to one another.
METHODS
The I-TEAM program began in August of 2019, and includes over 140 students from various health professions. The inaugural evaluation and assessment protocol consists of a longitudinal, mixed-methods design utilizing surveys, interviews, observations, and narrative reflection. T1 data (pre-I-TEAM) was collected in the summer of 2019, and T2 data (end-of-program) is still being collected at this time but will be analyzed and prepared in time for presentation for the NEXUS Summit.
RESULTS
The results to be presented will include students’ (potential) changes in empathy, well-being, perceptions of own/other health professions, and general experiences with and attitudes towards the I-TEAM program, as well as approaches/potential changes for the upcoming version of I-TEAM.
CONCLUSION
The data gleaned from this intricate and multifaceted evaluation approach will not only serve to enhance the I-TEAM program, but also lend support to the overarching notions of the value of teaching empathy through workouts, and the promotion of personalization and/or common in-group identity through the cultivation of psychological safety and encouraging vulnerability among peers in the interprofessional setting.
This program and its evaluation and assessment were funded in part by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
