Understanding the Roles of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists on the Care Team: An Interprofessional Educational Experience for First-year Medical Students
Background: Preclinical medical students infrequently have the opportunity to engage with interprofessional colleagues and learn their roles and responsibilities. Early interprofessional education (IPE) can help students in their transition to the clinical learning environment (CLE). This study aimed to assess the impact of an IPE experience on first-year medical students’ understanding of PT and OT, and intentions to incorporate both into future care plans.
Methods: First-year medical students at an academic medical center participated in a two-hour interprofessional clinical observation experience in outpatient PT or OT. Students completed a post-experience 5-point Likert scale survey regarding their confidence pre- and post-experience in their understanding of the respective roles of PTs and OTs on the care team and recognizing when to refer a patient. Students self-rated their intention to incorporate PT and OT into future care plans. Providers also evaluated the experience via a post-experience 5-point Likert scale survey.
Results: Ninety students participated in the experience and 84% completed a post-experience survey. The median score for students’ self-rated confidence in their understanding of the respective roles of PTs and OTs on the care team increased (pre: 3 [IQR: 2-3], post: 4 [IQR: 4-5], p < 0.001). The median score for students’ self-rated confidence in recognizing when to refer a patient to PT or OT increased from 2 [IQR: 1-3] pre-experience to 4 [IQR: 3-4] post-experience (p < 0.001). The median agreement score regarding intent to incorporate PT and OT into future care plans increased (pre: 4 [IQR:4-5], post 5 [IQR: 5-5], p < 0.001. Fifteen providers participated and 47% completed a post-experience survey. All providers agreed the experience helped students improve their communication skills with interprofessional team members.
Conclusions: An interprofessional clinical observation experience is an effective method to improve first-year medical students’ self-rated understanding of PTs’ and OTs’ roles and increase students’ intentions to collaborate with PTs and OTs in caring for future patients.
Implications: Understanding of interprofessional roles and responsibilities gained through clinical observation can be applied to future interprofessional collaboration and potentially help students transition to the CLE.
Funding: Health Resources and Services Administration Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry Clinician Educator Career Development Award, K02HP30823
