Exploring the Foundations of Interprofessional Education: Reconnaissance Phase of an Action Research

Aim: Healthcare professionals need to learn with, together, and from each other during their training as they prepare for their collaborative roles in the field. This study aims to explore faculty members' awareness, needs, and thoughts on program design in the field of Interprofessional Education (IPE). Methods: The methodology of the research involves qualitative data collection and analysis in the exploratory stage of action research for IPE program design. The study is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 22 faculty members who do not practice IPE in a health education institution in Turkey. Data collection was conducted online through semi-structured interviews in 2021 and descriptive thematic analysis was applied using NVIVO software. Results: Findings show that 77.27% of the participants are female (n:17) with an average age of 42.31. Among the faculty members, 3 (13.63%) are professors, 9 (40.90%) are associate professors, and 10 (45.45%) are assistant professors. 9 (40.90%) of the faculty members are from the Medicine faculty, 10 (45.45%) from Health Sciences (Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Physiotherapy), and 3 (13.63%) are from the Dentistry faculty. After the qualitative data analysis, the main findings were divided into five main themes: Educational Philosophy and Importance, Application and Methodology, Educational Content and Methods, Institutional Culture and Practices, and Interprofessional Education and Metaphors. Each theme was examined in detail with participants' opinions and illustrative expressions. The study emphasizes the lack of collaboration in health services and how this parallels the need for strategies to strengthen collaboration between health education and professional health organizations. Researchers point out that health services need to be delivered more effectively, efficiently, and at lower cost, and in this process, the need for interprofessional collaboration and education is increasing. Conclusions: This study comprehensively addresses the importance and effectiveness of IPE in the health sector, encompassing faculty members' and health professionals' awareness, needs, and recommendations for IPE program design, and offers a guiding resource. The results of the research demonstrate the potential of IPE to enhance the quality of health services and improve patient health outcomes.