INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN PHYSICAL THERAPY EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Y. Salem^1,2, C. Babin³, M. Quiben⁴, R. States⁵

¹Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, United States, ²Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, ³Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, ⁴University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, United States, ⁵Long Island University, Brooklyn, United States

Background: There is little published data on Interprofessional Education (IPE) in physical therapy education programs in the United States (U.S.), particularly on how IPE activities have been integrated and implemented within the didactic and clinical education curricula.

Purpose: The present study aims to describe the role of IPE in the curricula, faculty participation in IPE, support and funding for IPE, and challenges and barriers to implementing IPE in US physical therapy education programs.

Methods: TheBoard of Directors (BOD) for the National Interprofessional Education Consortium (NIPEC) of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT) conducted a survey on how IPE is included and integrated in physical therapist education programs. This survey of U.S. physical therapy education programs was developed using a consensus process by the authors who are academicians and clinicians with experience in IPE, in consultation with experts in IPE and physical therapy. The survey gathered details of IPE experiences in physical therapy education programs.

Results: Of the 257 US physical therapy accredited program members selected to receive the survey, 102 completed it with a response rate of 40%.The results revealed that while there is heterogeneity in how IPE is implemented in physical therapy education programs, the vast majority of programs addressed the four Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies incorporated in current Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards. IPE activities routinely occur in physical therapy education programs and involve students from many other health professions. The vast majority of programs incorporate IPE in similar ways in their didactic curricula while there was more variation regarding the role of IPE in clinical education. Faculty time and workload, lack of student time, and lack of financial support are the major challenges to implementing IPE in the didactic curriculum, while barriers to IPE implementation in clinical education included the clinical instructor’s time, workload, and training.

Conclusions: Given a paucity of published data on how IPE is conducted within U.S. physical therapy education programs, this studyprovidesbaseline data reflecting nationwide perspectives.This study demonstrated both current status and barriers to IPE implementation in US physical therapy education. As IPE continues to evolve, these findings suggest that more detailed expectations of IPE in both didactic and clinical education curricula may help programs achieve more consistency and efficacy of implementation of IPE. Future research should examine how differing methods of delivery and implementation of IPE in the didactic and clinical education curricula influence the development of IPE competency among future physical therapists.

Implications: A strategic plan for implementing IPE in physical therapy education and more detailed expectations of IPE in both didactic and clinical education curricula, may be helpful for US and international programs considering curricular changes. These results will help in the development of future interventions that can enhance IPE in curricula in physical therapy education programs.

Funding acknowledgements: None

Keywords:
Interprofessional Education (IPE)
Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)
Physical Therapy Education

Topics:
Education
Education: clinical

Did this work require ethics approval? No

Reason: The survey was anonymous and we received a confirmation from the University of North Texas Health Science Center IRB that no IRB is required. The letter is available up on request.