Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if the Interprofessional Collaborator Assessment Rubric (ICAR): Communication and Collaboration Dimensions would demonstrate good inter-rater reliability and be a useful and efficient tool to evaluate professional communication and collaboration between occupational therapy (OT) and physician assistant (PA) students. An additional aim of this study was to assess students’ thoughts, perceptions, and perceived value regarding these types of interprofessional opportunities. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used. An interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) examined the inter-rater reliability of the instrument for both faculty raters (n = 7) and standardized patient (SP) raters (n =5). Qualitative data was gathered from focus groups to assess the utility of the ICAR: Communication and Collaboration. Quantitative and qualitative data were also gathered from a convenience sample of student participants (n =19) to investigate the perceived value of this interprofessional experience. Quantitative data revealed that there was moderate inter-rater reliability for four out of five of the subscales. Three themes emerged from the rater and student focus groups. Students found the interprofessional education (IPE) opportunity to be valuable. They also felt that it enhanced their understanding of the OT/PA profession, as well as their comfort and ability to collaborate and communicate with other professionals. The results of this study suggest that the ICAR: Communication and Collaboration Dimensions has the potential to maintain inter-rater reliability among healthcare students. The results of this study also indicate that healthcare students view IPE events as being highly valuable and beneficial.
Biography
Lisa Jean Knecht-Sabres, DHS, OTR/L is a Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University.
Daniel Provencher, MS, PA-C is an Associate Professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Midwestern University.
Sarah Zera, OTD, OTR/L is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University.
Kristy Luciano, MS, PA-C is an Associate Professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Midwestern University.
Susanne Higgins OTD, OTR/L, CHT is an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University.
Dana Lingle, OTD, OTR/L, CHT is an Assistant Professor & Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Program at Midwestern University.
Patricia A. Higgins, DO is a recently retired Associate Professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Midwestern University.
Charlotte A. Bolch, Ph.D., M.S. is the Manager of BioClinical Statistics at Midwestern University.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Knecht-Sabres, L. J., Provencher, D., Luciano, K., Zera, S., Higgins, S., Lingle, D., Higgins, P. A., & Bolch, C. (2023). Evaluating Communication and Collaboration Among Healthcare Students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2023.070107
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