A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study on the Behavioral Intentions of Polish Medical and Healthcare Students Regarding Interprofessional Collaboration in Their Future Clinical Practice

Background/Objectives: Since the importance of robust theory-driven research is emphasized in medical education and little data are available on the intentions of medical and healthcare students regarding interprofessional collaboration, this study aimed to analyze the behavioral intentions of Polish medical and healthcare students to undertake interprofessional collaboration in their future work. This study follows the assumptions of the theory of planned behavior, including analysis of the students’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in this regard. Methods: Data were collected from March to July 2023 on the population of students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Poland) using a questionnaire developed using dedicated manuals on the theory. Results: The students demonstrated generally positive behavioral intentions and attitudes, with a mean total attitude score of 103.13 ± 33.31 in a possible range of −231 to 231. Their sense of social pressure to engage in interprofessional collaboration was weak to moderate positive, as indicated by their total subjective norm score equal on average to 57.01 ± 42.98 in a possible range of −189 to 189, or mixed when evaluated directly. Furthermore, even though they presented a neutral or moderately positive direct assessment of their perceived behavioral control, its indirect measure was weak to moderately negative, with a mean total perceived behavioral control of −80.78 ± 59.21 in a possible range of −231 to 231. Conclusions: The findings suggest that students’ perceptions of mixed social pressure and the presence of barriers or obstacles to collaboration may negatively impact their perceived ease and willingness to collaborate, even despite their initially positive attitudes towards it.