Interprofessional education using clinical simulation for the development of communication skills

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the development of interprofessional communication skills focused on patients and their families among students in health-related degree programs through interprofessional education based on clinical simulation. Method: mixed study (QUAL+quan). Direct observation, surveys, rubrics, and focus groups were used. Data collection took place in March 2023. The sample was convenience-based, excluding students of Medical Technology and those at or below the third-year level. Forty students from four disciplines at the Universidad Santo Tomás, La Serena, Chile, participated. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS®. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using content analysis with ATLAS.ti. Results: the simulation promoted interprofessional skills, highlighting the relationship between communication and role clarification as key to patient safety. Conclusion: understanding of roles, communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution was strengthened.