A Preliminary Survey of Interprofessional Education http://www.jdentaled.org/cgi/reprint/70/4/417 Site Reviews(0) Abstract: The purpose of this article is to review the literature on interprofessional education (IPE) and report on a preliminary
survey of the current status of interprofessional education in seven academic health centers (AHCs) that have schools of dentistry
associated with them. There is wide variability in interpretation of the term “interprofessional,” and many barriers to
interprofessional education exist including already overcrowded curricula in health professions schools, lack of support from
faculty and administration, and financial constraints. Based on interviews completed at the authors’ home institutions, it was
recommended that topics such as ethics, communication skills, evidence-based practice, and informatics could be effectively
taught in an interprofessional manner. Currently, some academic health centers are attempting to develop interprofessional
education programs, but most of these efforts do not include dental students. Of the seven AHCs investigated in this study, only
two had formal interprofessional educational activities that involved students from two or more health professions education
programs. Dental school participants in this study professed a strong interest in interprofessional programs, but many
interviewees from other professional schools and AHC administrators perceived that the dental school was isolated from other
schools and disinterested in IPE. Many health care setting models in the future will include dentists as part of an interdisciplinary
health care team; consequently, it is important for dental schools to become an active participant in future interprofessional
educational initiatives.
Dr. Rafter is Associate Professor and Director of Predoctoral Endodontics, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and
Endodontics, University of Michigan; Dr. Pesun is Associate Professor, Division of Prosthodontics, Department of Restorative
Sciences, University of Minnesota; Dr. Herren is Assistant Professor, OHP/Restorative Dentistry and Clinical Team Leader,
University of Kentucky School of Dentistry; Dr. Linfante is Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Dentistry and
Director of Predoctoral Admissions and Student Recruitment, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; Dr. Mina is
Professor and Chair, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric
Dentistry, and Advanced General Dentistry, University of Connecticut; Dr. Wu is Associate Dean for Research and Professor of
Periodontics, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Dr. Casada is Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Diagnostic
Sciences, Prosthodontics, and Restorative Dentistry, University of Louisville. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to
Dr. Igor Pesun, University of Minnesota, 9-450B Moos Tower, 515 Delaware Street, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-625-3924
phone; 612-625-1496 fax; [email protected]
Key words: dental education, interprofessional education Added: Nov 30, 1999 Last Update: Nov 30, 1999 Category: I Hits Out: 0 |
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