Issues and efforts at the initiation process of Interprofessional Education.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to clarify the issues and efforts of the initiation process of interprofessional education （IPE）. Methods: We conducted a semi-structured interview survey on 5 teachers in multiple fields with experience in IPE. Data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results: Experience in the initiation process of IPE was extracted into 125 codes. As a result of analysis, 4 categories about triggers and motivations for starting IPE, 8 categories about driving forces to start IPE, 5 categories about difficulties and barriers to starting IPE, 7 categories about devising curriculum construction and program creation, and 4 categories about organizing across departments and institutions were identified. Conclusion: When developing an educational program with few precedents, issues of forming consensus among teachers in multiple fields, resolving conflicts, and exploring teaching methods were found. In addition, the following were clarified as efforts at the initiation process of IPE: “leveraging organizational strengths and current trends as driving forces”, “securing the economic, environmental, and human resources needed for IPE”, “starting with the practical or trial program, then making improvements”, and “organizing a forum for consensus-building among teachers”.