Title : Impact of interprofessional learning on professional dynamics among healthcare professionals
Abstract:
Assessment of the impact of interprofessional learning (IPL) on professional dynamics among radiographers and other healthcare professionals is very important for quality patient care management. The research design was a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study. It was conducted in various healthcare departments at
Federal Medical Centres and Federal Teaching Hospitals in South-East of Nigeria having a sample size of 386 healthcare professionals. Recent standardized questionnaires were adapted to suite the purpose of study. The questionnaire contained 63 items with 2 sections: A and B. ‘A’ for socio-demographic data and ‘B’ for professionals’ relationship, knowledge, readiness, perception and attitude towards IPL. Data was collected through simple random sampling and analysed descriptively using frequency tables, Spearman rank correlation, one-way ANOVA on rank and Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference comparison. 57.3% of the respondents were female. Gender showed significant positive relationship with teamwork, conflict resolution and prejudice (rs = 0.122; p = 0.016). Discipline showed significant negative relationship with teamwork, conflict resolution, prejudice (rs = -0.133; p = 0.009), and communication (rs = -0.132; p = 0.010). Previous IPL experience showed significant positive relationship with radiographers’ ability to accommodate, collaborate, form teamwork, resolve conflict and communicate effectively with other health professionals. Level of education had a negative significance with knowledge of (rs = -0.192; p = 0.000), readiness for, perception and attitude towards IPL (rs = -0.299; p = 0.000). This study showed statistically significant differences among healthcare professionals on their relationships (p = 0.000), knowledge of (p = 0.043), readiness for (p = 0.000) and perception and attitude towards IPL (p = 0.001). Gender and discipline were of great influence on radiographers’ relationship with other healthcare professionals. This study affirm that IPL experience proves to have more positive chances to strengthen team dynamics and prevent the transfer of disciplines negative stereotypes into the workforce.
