Interprofessional Attitudes of Health Care Professionals

Location

Hall of Governors

Start Date

4-7-2017 12:30 PM

End Date

4-7-2017 1:30 PM

Abstract

Background: Over 25 years ago, two studies investigated attitudes and perceptions between health care professionals as well as students. This study aimed to examine the same among health care professionals practicing today. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions, biases, and stereotypes that Health Care practitioners have about four professions commonly involved in interprofessional allied health teams as their attitudes and perceptions may impact client care.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based research design was used. With IRB approval, a 43 question survey was electronically distributed via Survey Monkey to nurses, occupational therapist, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists who were over 18 years old, currently licensed and practicing or retired (or recent grads eligible for licensure) with a bachelor’s degree or higher in their profession, and who consented to participate in the study.

Results: During the 5 weeks, the survey was open, 86 responses were received, 59 of which contained answers beyond demographic information. By profession, the responses received were received from 11 nurses, 21 occupational therapists, 22 physical therapists, and 5 speech language pathologists. Responses were analyzed within four themes: interprofessional education (IPE), interprofessional experiences, communication, and perceptions of other professions.

Conclusions: Participants from the current study viewed other fields more positively than reported in previous studies (reviewed by Streed and Stoeker, 2001, and by Parker and Chan (1986). IPE and more interprofessional teams might have contributed to these positive interactions. However, the perception that professions have negative views of each other still persisted, suggesting opportunities and goals for future IPE.

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Apr 7th, 12:30 PM Apr 7th, 1:30 PM

Interprofessional Attitudes of Health Care Professionals

Hall of Governors

Background: Over 25 years ago, two studies investigated attitudes and perceptions between health care professionals as well as students. This study aimed to examine the same among health care professionals practicing today. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions, biases, and stereotypes that Health Care practitioners have about four professions commonly involved in interprofessional allied health teams as their attitudes and perceptions may impact client care.

Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based research design was used. With IRB approval, a 43 question survey was electronically distributed via Survey Monkey to nurses, occupational therapist, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists who were over 18 years old, currently licensed and practicing or retired (or recent grads eligible for licensure) with a bachelor’s degree or higher in their profession, and who consented to participate in the study.

Results: During the 5 weeks, the survey was open, 86 responses were received, 59 of which contained answers beyond demographic information. By profession, the responses received were received from 11 nurses, 21 occupational therapists, 22 physical therapists, and 5 speech language pathologists. Responses were analyzed within four themes: interprofessional education (IPE), interprofessional experiences, communication, and perceptions of other professions.

Conclusions: Participants from the current study viewed other fields more positively than reported in previous studies (reviewed by Streed and Stoeker, 2001, and by Parker and Chan (1986). IPE and more interprofessional teams might have contributed to these positive interactions. However, the perception that professions have negative views of each other still persisted, suggesting opportunities and goals for future IPE.