Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP)

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Authors

van den Hoogen A, Johnston L, Roehr CC, Panas M, Kühn T, Gözen D, Petty J, Schlembach D, Simeone N, Stoniene D, Tency I

Target group

Infants, parents, and families

User group

Parents, healthcare professionals, education providers, hospitals, and health services

Statement of standard

Every healthcare professional has access to interprofessional education that enhances the delivery of practice in the care of infants and their families.

Rationale

Interprofessional collaboration is identified as critical to the provision of effective and efficient healthcare, given the complexity of the healthcare needs of patients, and the range of healthcare providers and organisations. Interprofessional collaboration has been linked to a range of outcomes, including improvements in patient safety and case management, the optimal use of the skills of each healthcare team member, and the provision of better health. Professional and academic leaders from diverse countries have developed a shared vision and strategy for postsecondary education in medicine, nursing, and public health. National organisations have created core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice, positioning interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP) as fundamental to practice improvement. (1,2)

Provision of IPE opportunities will ensure that infants and their families are cared for by a multidisciplinary team that values and practices collaboration in the delivery of care. (see Infant- & family-centred developmental care)

Benefits

Facilitates effective collaborative practice which in turn enhances the quality of health services delivery, strengthens health systems and improves health outcomes. (3)
Facilitates exchange between students from two or more professions in health during all or part of their training to learn about, from, and with each other which leads to creation of a shared understanding and synergy. (3)

Components of the standard

Component

Grading of evidence

Indicator of meeting the standard

For parents and family

Parents contribute their perspective to the interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP) opportunities available to healthcare professionals.

B (Low quality)

Parent feedback

For healthcare professionals

IPE and IPP are attended by all responsible healthcare professionals.

B (High quality)

Training documentation

All principles of IPE and IPP (1) are understood and demonstrated.

A (High quality)

Training documentation

For education providers

An integrated interprofessional curriculum includes common time, common curriculum content, collaborative competencies assessed along with uniprofessional competencies, and learning which occurs in both university and practice settings. (4)

A (Moderate quality)

Training documentation

For neonatal unit

N/A

For hospital

IPE and IPP are ensured.

B (High quality)

Training documentation

The principles of IPE and IPP are endorsed by educators, healthcare providers, and those in positions of leadership.

B (Low quality)

Training documentation

For health service

The principles of IPE and IPP are supported by educators, healthcare providers, and those in positions of leadership.

B (Low quality)

Training documentation

Where to go

Further development

Grading of evidence

For parents and family

N/A

For healthcare professionals

N/A

For education providers

Inform and advance curriculum through collaborative research and opportunities for scholarship. (5)

A (Moderate quality)
B (Moderate quality)

Develop, deliver, and evaluate curriculum in collaboration with faculty, families, and learners. (5)

A (Moderate quality)
B (Low quality)

For neonatal unit

N/A

For hospital

N/A

For health service

N/A

Getting started

Initial steps

For parents and family

N/A

For healthcare professionals

Attend interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP).
Recognise the value of collaboration in professional practice.

For education providers

Include IPE and IPP in core curricula of undergraduate and graduate programmes.
Involve parents in the review and revision of the curricula.

For neonatal unit

N/A

For hospital

Support healthcare professionals to participate in IPE and IPP.

For health service

N/A

Reeves S, Perrier L, Goldman J, Freeth D, Zwarenstein M. Interprofessional education: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes (update). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Mar 28;(3):CD002213.
Frenk J, Chen L, Bhutta ZA, Cohen J, Crisp N, Evans T, et al. Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world. The Lancet. 2010 Dec 4;376(9756):1923–58.
Health Professions Networks Nursing & Midwifery Human Resources for Health. Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice [Internet]. World Health Organization; [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/70185/WHO_HRH_HPN_10.3_eng.pdf;jsessionid=45506C96933084214D91AEBC9890537B?sequence=1
Campion-Smith C, Austin H, Criswick S, Dowling B, Francis G. Can sharing stories change practice? A qualitative study of an interprofessional narrative-based palliative care course. J Interprof Care. 2010;25(2):105–11.
Centre for interprofessional education, University of Toronto. Interprofessional Education Curriculum [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://www.ipe.utoronto.ca/interprofessional-education-curriculum

November 2018 / 1st edition / next revision: 2023

Recommended citation

EFCNI, van den Hoogen A, Johnston L et al., European Standards of Care for Newborn Health: Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP). 2018.

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