The impact of a microaggressions-themed interprofessional education curriculum on attitudes, confidence, and collaboration competencies: A curricular resource for health professions learners

Abstract

While attention has been paid to microaggressions (MAs) and interprofessional (IP) education independently, little attention has been paid to how training IP learners in MA can impact confidence and willingness to respond to MAs. We developed an online IPE activity, for six health professions, with asynchronous and synchronous components utilizing standardized patients (SPs) aiming to educate on MAs, their impacts, and how to appropriately respond as recipient, bystander, and source. Students from senior undergraduate nursing (BSN), second-year medical (MD), third-year pharmacy (PharmD), physician assistant/associate (PA) students, athletic training (BS), and graduate nursing (DNP) health professions programs participated.

Objectives included: define MA; respond to a MA as the source, bystander, and recipient using Ackerman-Barger's Microaggressions Triangle model; respond to a MA when the source is lateral, in a position of authority, and a patient; and identify the ability of the activity to allow interprofessional collaboration across the six Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Scale (ICCAS) domains. The synchronous virtual session began with a large group didactic mini lecture and transitioned to IP small group activities. Within groups, students completed SP simulations where students role played responding to MAs as the recipient, bystander, and source. The session concluded with a faculty-led large group debrief. Students were pleased with the learning experience and demonstrated improvements in attitudes/confidence responding to MAs and ICCAS domains. The curriculum can be customized to meet the needs of a variety of health profession learners and is available for use from the authors.