Interprofessional education using online simulated family participation during the pandemic

Abstract

An online interprofessional education (IPE) program was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic using Zoom, a cloud-based video conferencing service for educators and learners. To engage the students before the live web conference, they were provided materials about the IPE program and professional roles, scenarios of elderly patients with diabetes and dementia, and video lectures with fundamental information regarding dementia care for each profession. From May to September 2020, eight online IPE classes were conducted with students from mixed professional groups divided into two groups. Each group had one pharmacy student, three to four medical students, and three nursing students. In the first session of the program, students were given a clinical scenario focusing on an elderly patient with diabetes and dementia. Then, they discussed each profession’s roles and made care plans. Finally, they interviewed a standardized family member (SFM) and explained the care plans as a mixed professional team during the live web conference. In addition, the students were asked in a questionnaire following the online IPE program to describe what they learned regarding interprofessional collaboration. It revealed that it was useful in understanding the importance of team-based care and meeting the students’ learning objectives.