Improving Interprofessional Communication Confidence Among Physical Therapy and Nurse Practitioner Students. Issue 3 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cooper, Denise; Keiser, Megan; Berg, Karen; Sherman, Erica
• Is Part Of: Journal of physical therapy education. Volume 33:Issue 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: SBAR -- Simulation -- Interprofessional communication -- Nurse practitioner -- Physical therapist; Physical therapy -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Study and teaching; Physical Therapy (Specialty) -- education -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 615.82071
• DOI: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-1855

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Educators identified a deficiency in interprofessional communication education in a midwestern university's Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. While several professional organizations stress the importance of interprofessional communication, few studies have focused on such communication between DPT and DNP students. The purpose of this study was to assess DNP and DPT students' knowledge and perception of confidence in interprofessional communication after a simulation-based learning activity conducted via telephone consultation. During the activity, students used the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) method with a clinical case study. Methods: The study used a nonrandom sample of 52 first-year DPT and 19 second-year DNP students. Participants completed a questionnaire prior to an educational intervention consisting of SBAR and interprofessional education (IPE) modules. The activity was conducted using an online audio conferencing tool. Students then completed a postintervention questionnaire and reflective questions. Results: Data analysis (descriptive statistics, analysis of variance with change scores, and qualitative data analysis) showed that DPT students had significantly higher changes in SBAR combined knowledge and attitude scores compared to DNP students after simulation activity. Discussion and Conclusion: Introducing interprofessional communication such as SBAR approach in DPT and DNP curricula using realistic, simulation-based learning activities with clinical case studies may help students improve their confidence in interprofessional communication.