Bringing down the silos to enhance student outcomes through interprofessional teaching

Abstract

This paper focuses on the enhancement of student learning outcomes in providing basic counselling and brief interventions for smoking cessation in an oral health program. The design, development, implementation and initial evaluation of an interprofessional program in Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation are outlined to demonstrate the way in which interprofessional teams can be engaged to contribute to a more holistic higher education experience for students in a second year undergraduate program. This interprofessional initiative has been initially evaluated by pre- and post-course surveys, student focus groups and assessment of student role-plays in brief motivational interviewing. These approaches have provided some initial insights into the program’s effectiveness in creating a positive student learning experience and highlight potential improvement opportunities. In summary, there was a demonstrable improvement in students’ knowledge, attitudes and skills in providing initial smoking cessation and brief motivational interviewing techniques.