Implementing a primary care simulation to improve interprofessional competencies

Learners from six health professions programs (athletic training, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and physical therapy) participated in a telehealth primary care simulation. The learners’ purpose of the simulated visit was to evaluate and manage a patient experiencing complications of type 2 diabetes, including vision changes, frequent falls, and a foot wound.

Objectives

The objectives of the activity were to: 1) assess changes in perceived interprofessional abilities in the areas of communication, collaboration, roles and responsibilities, patient/family-centered care, conflict management and resolution, and team functioning, and 2) assess learner perceptions regarding the value of the interprofessional primary care simulation.

Activity

Learners were divided into teams with 1–2 learners from each program (8–9 total learners per team) and each team interacted face-to-face in small individual classrooms. Trained faculty served as simulation facilitators in each classroom. Each team conducted a two-phase videoconference encounter with a trained standardized patient and family member. Between the two phases, each team conducted an interprofessional care planning session. Learner evaluation of the exercise used two validated tools, the revised Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS-R), and the modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET-M) to inform the faculty.

Findings

Paired t-test values on all 20 items of the ICCAS-R indicated statistically significant results (p < .001), and SET-M results indicated that over 88 % of learners strongly agreed or somewhat agreed with questions pertaining to their satisfaction with the activity. Findings from this activity can be used by other educational institutions to develop a primary care simulation based on the health professions available, thus enhancing interprofessional learning opportunities and overcoming a common barrier of limited clinical sites for interprofessional practice.