Susan E. Sterrett

Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Education: Comparing Physician Assistant and Other Health Care Professions Students

Purpose: Since the release of the 1988 World Health Organization report on the need for interprofessional education (IPE) programs, various forms of IPE curricula have been implemented within institutions of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to describe results of a study using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) to compare physician assistant (PA) students with other health professions students. Methods: The RIPLS survey was completed by 158 health professions graduate students, including 71 PA students, at a small northeastern university in the fall of 2010. Students were enrolled in either counseling psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or PA studies. Students completed the RIPLS survey, demographic questions, and a question regarding experience with the health care environment. Results: PA students scored significantly lower on three of the four subscales of the RIPLS survey, as well as lower in total score. Females of all health professions scored significantly higher on the RIPLS total score and on the Teamwork and Collaboration subscale than did males. Students with prior exposure to the health care system as a patient or as an immediate family member of a patient scored significantly higher on the Negative Professional Identity subscale than did students without such exposure. Conclusions: Results indicate that PA students may value interprofessional collaboration less than other health professions students. Also, there may be gender and experiential differences in readiness for interprofessional learning. These findings may affect the design of IPE experiences and support integration of interprofessional experiences into PA education.

Developing communities of interprofessional practice: using a communities of practice framework for interprofessional education.

Development of interprofessional education programs that meet new Interprofessional Education Collaborative competencies is a challenge for faculty and administrators. This article describes a curricular design that places students in learning communities over a 2-year period with a plan for 5 learning sessions. Communities of practice is the theoretical framework of the curricular design, creating interprofessional clinicians capable of effective collaborative practice.

Incivility in the Online Classroom: A Guide for Policy Development

The growth of online education has created a learning environment that permits nontraditional students the opportunity for degree completion without the burden of relocation. Given the shortage of nurses at all educational levels, many institutions of higher learning have created online programs to meet the needs of both the student and the profession as a whole. Although convenient for the student and beneficial for the nursing profession, the online learning environment can present numerous challenges. Among these challenges are acts of student incivility-creating a difficult work environment for faculty and, at times, negatively affecting other students. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review problems associated with student incivility and share the experience in creating as well as implementing a professionalism policy that addresses student incivility. Recommendations for policy creation are summarized.

Attitudes toward evidence-based clinical decision support tools to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation: The Canadian CT Head Rule

Background and purpose nA large degree of variation in clinical practice exists among clinicians evaluating and treating individuals with minor head injuries. Noncontrast head computerized tomography (CT) scans are commonly used to assess for intracranial damage in patients presenting with head injury. This practice is not supported by the evidence and poses harm to patients by increasing exposure to ionizing radiation. This form of radiation exposure increases the risk of developing cancers over the course of the individuals life, and further strains the limited resources of the healthcare system. n nProject summary nThis article describes the findings of an evidence-based practice project assessing the attitudes of clinicians toward an evidence-based clinical decision support tool (Canadian CT Head Rule [CCHR]). The CCHR has 100% sensitivity in detecting all clinically important brain injuries and any injury requiring neurosurgical intervention. This clinical decision support (CDS) tool is designed to help guide clinicians in the prudent use of head CT scans in people ages 16–64 that have sustained minor head injuries. The Evidence-Based Attitude Scale was also used to identify which domains were most influential on willingness to adopt into clinical practice. n nConclusions nThe results revealed an 84% increase in clinician knowledge of the use of the CCHR. A majority (83%) of participants reported moderate likelihood of adoption of the CDS tool into clinical practice if they found the tool appealing, and it was required by a governing authority. The use of CDS tools can help healthcare providers mitigate the risk associated with caring for complex patients. CDS tools provide a systematic method to evaluate patients with minor head injuries while assuring consistency of care and quality outcomes. This practice of assuring consistency and good patient outcomes is foundational to the concept of standard of care, which serves to improve clinical practice.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEnA large degree of variation in clinical practice exists among clinicians evaluating and treating individuals with minor head injuries. Noncontrast head computerized tomography (CT) scans are commonly used to assess for intracranial damage in patients presenting with head injury. This practice is not supported by the evidence and poses harm to patients by increasing exposure to ionizing radiation. This form of radiation exposure increases the risk of developing cancers over the course of the individuals life, and further strains the limited resources of the healthcare system.nnnPROJECT SUMMARYnThis article describes the findings of an evidence-based practice project assessing the attitudes of clinicians toward an evidence-based clinical decision support tool (Canadian CT Head Rule [CCHR]). The CCHR has 100% sensitivity in detecting all clinically important brain injuries and any injury requiring neurosurgical intervention. This clinical decision support (CDS) tool is designed to help guide clinicians in the prudent use of head CT scans in people ages 16-64 that have sustained minor head injuries. The Evidence-Based Attitude Scale was also used to identify which domains were most influential on willingness to adopt into clinical practice.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe results revealed an 84% increase in clinician knowledge of the use of the CCHR. A majority (83%) of participants reported moderate likelihood of adoption of the CDS tool into clinical practice if they found the tool appealing, and it was required by a governing authority. The use of CDS tools can help healthcare providers mitigate the risk associated with caring for complex patients. CDS tools provide a systematic method to evaluate patients with minor head injuries while assuring consistency of care and quality outcomes. This practice of assuring consistency and good patient outcomes is foundational to the concept of standard of care, which serves to improve clinical practice.