Interprofessional education in clinical practice: not a single vaccine

Abstract

In increasingly complex health service environments, the quality of teamwork and co-operation between doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, is ‘under the microscope’. Interprofessional education (IPE), a process whereby health professionals learn ‘from, with and about each other’, is advocated as a response to widespread calls for improved communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals. Although there is much that is commendable in IPE, the authors caution that the benefits may be overstated if too much is attributed to, or expected of, IPE activities. The authors propose that clarity is required around what can realistically be achieved. Furthermore, engagement with clinicians in the clinical practice setting who are instrumental in assisting students make sense of their knowledge through practice, is imperative for sustainable outcomes.