(116) Providing care to an underserved older adult community utilizing an interprofessional education and practice opportunity

Objective : The goal was to deliver an interprofessional educational experience for students from three healthcare disciplines from the MCPHS School of Pharmacy – Boston, MCPHS Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene, and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, while providing care to an underserved older adult population. Students were assessed to determine the impact of the intentional IPE activities to measure change in interprofessional collaboration-related competencies. Additionally, we assessed the patient-reported impact of the student-led IPE clinics on their understanding of oral health/hygiene and medication adherence and medication-related adverse effects.

Methods: Residents of a low-income apartment living complex for older adults in the Boston area were seen at their residence and scheduled for an appointment that included a medication review and an oral health assessment with team a team of pharmacy, dental hygiene, and dental students. Student teams worked together during the appointment to assess the residents’ oral health status and provide a care plan.

Results: Students were assessed before and after the IPE sessions utilizing the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS). On average, students’ post-survey scores were higher compared to their pre-survey scores across all questions. Residents also reported that the student-led IPE clinics were effective in making them more aware of their oral health and how their medications might impact their oral health and medication-related adverse effects

Conclusions: The integration of interprofessional activities positively impacted student understanding of roles and responsibilities within a healthcare team. The patient-centered approach adopted in the student-led clinics enhanced older adults' awareness of oral health, medication adherence, and medication-related adverse effects. This highlights the value of interprofessional education to deliver comprehensive and patient-centered care, particularly within underserved older adult populations.