Healthcare students perception of their readiness for interprofessional learning

Abstract: Introduction: Interprofessional Learning (IPL) is an approach that teaches students from different disciplines to share their professional knowledge in order to gain a more complex understanding of the situation at hand. According to WHO, interprofessional learning strengthens communication and the collaborative practice which in turn improves health outcomes for patients. Insufficient interprofessional communication due to inexperience with interprofessional teamwork can affect patients’ safety. Aim: To compare differences in nursing- and medical students readiness for interprofessional learning in Vietnam and if they believe that IPL could affect the quality of communication with patients. Method: A quantitative study was conducted, with a descriptive approach where the population consisted of nursing- and medical students at University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The data was collected through a structured questionnaire called Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Mann Whitney U-test was used for statistical analyzes. Results: A statistical significant difference, between the two professions, was found in four out of nineteen questions. Therefore we could not see a difference in readiness between the two professions. Regarding the students’ perception on IPL and communication, we could not see a statistical difference, the two groups had similar views on the topic.   Conclusion: We could only find a few questions that reflected an actual difference (p < 0.05) in opinion between the two professions.