(81) Implementation and Evaluation of a Virtual Interprofessional Education Interhospital Transfer Simulation

Objective : To evaluate healthcare students’ interprofessional education (IPE) competencies before and after a collaborative, virtual interhospital transfer simulation.

Methods: As part of an IPE course at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), a virtual interhospital transfer simulation was developed and implemented in collaboration with Misericordia University. Shortened versions of the Revised Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS), which assesses the change in interprofessional (IP) collaboration-related competencies (communication, collaboration, roles and responsibilities, collaborative patient-family-centered approach, conflict management/resolution, and team functioning) in healthcare trainees before and after IPE training interventions, were used to evaluate outcomes from the simulation. Each item measured self-perceived ratings of IP-related skills on a 5 point Likert scale (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent). A 12-question pre-survey and a 13-question post-survey were used to evaluate changes in the interprofessional collaboration-related competencies among XULA students.

Results: Healthcare students from clinical psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology programs participated in the simulation. Of these 137 students, 56 (41%) from XULA completed the pre-post surveys, with 65% comprised of pharmacy students. Aggregate responses showed a 14-36% increase to “Very good” and “Excellent” ratings with reductions in lower ratings among all items after the simulation. The majority (85%) of students indicated an improved ability to collaborate interprofessionally.

Conclusions: This virtual interhospital transfer simulation provided students with a valuable IPE learning experience. Virtual care transitions simulations may provide students with opportunities to collaborate interprofessionally despite geographic limitations.