"Walking the Walk”: Promoting Competencies for Interprofessional Learning through Team Meetings—A Case Study

Authors

  • Matthew Links St George Hospital and University of New South Wales Clinical School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2014v4n2a145

Keywords:

Guided Reflection, teams, inter-professional learning, power

Abstract

Background: Interprofessional learning is a key aspect of improving team-based healthcare. Core competencies for interprofessional education (IPE) activities have recently been developed, but there is a lack of guidance as to practical application.

Methods and Findings: Cancer Forum is a weekly multi-professional meeting used as the case study for this report. Power was identified as a critical issue and six questions were identified as the basis for a structured reflection on the conduct of Cancer Forum. Results were then synthesised using Habermas’ delineation of learning as instrumental, normative, communicative, dramaturgical, and emancipatory. Power was a key issue in identified obstacles to inter professional learning. Leadership emerged as a cross-cutting theme and was added as a seventh question. The emancipatory potential of interprofessional learning benefited from explicit consideration of the meeting agenda to promote competencies of sharing role knowledge, teamwork and communication. Modelling of required skills fulfils a dramaturgical and normative role.

Conclusions: The structured reflection tool highlighted the relationship between power and IPE competencies. It was essential to walk the walk as well as talk. The process followed provides a practical guide for using team meetings to promote interprofessional learning competencies and thereby improving patient care.

Author Biography

Matthew Links, St George Hospital and University of New South Wales Clinical School

Dr Links is a Medical Oncologist and Educator at St George Hospital in Sydney with interests in interpforfessional and technology enabled learning. He is the Director of Advanced training in Medical Oncology for South Eastern Sydney. Illawarra and Sholahaven and Lead clinician for CPD for adult medicine in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Physicians.

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Published

2014-10-16

Issue

Section

Articles: Reflection