Development and Implementation of an Interprofessional Education Course in Geriatric Care for Dental and Nursing Students

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe the development and implementation of an interprofessional education (IPE) course in caring for older people for dental and nursing students and to investigate its impact on their perceptions of IPE and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP). METHODS: The IPE course was delivered to a convenience sample of 87 eighth semester dental and nursing students in a nursing home. A pilot course was first conducted and evaluated at the same location. The final course lasted 5 weeks and included preparatory students' training, followed by team site visits of half day duration. The site visits included a large group introductory session; small group visits to preselected residents' rooms providing interviews, clinical examination and general and oral health promotion counselling; development of comprehensive care plans; and a large group debriefing session. The students' perceptions of IPE and IPCP were assessed using SPICE-R2. Gibbs' reflective diaries and an anonymous evaluation form were completed in the debriefing session. RESULTS: After training, students' attitudes towards IPE and IPCP were statistically significantly improved in both disciplines (p < 0.005). However, both pre-test and post-test scores were significantly higher in nursing students (p < 0.001). The students gave the educational activity a high evaluation, scoring 52.1 out of 60. CONCLUSIONS: Both professions positively evaluated the IPE activity and demonstrated improvement in their IPE and IPCP perceptions. Institutional support and flexible curricula are necessary prerequisites for implementing IPE courses.