Perceptions of interprofessionalism in health professional students participating in a novel community service initiative.

Interprofessional collaboration is integral to effective patient care in today's healthcare system. Early exposure to other professions in a hands-on manner during education can be helpful for future practice. However, opportunities for interprofessional education are typically faculty driven and remain limited. Thirty-eight students from different health professions at the University of British Columbia worked collaboratively to promote cardiovascular risk reduction in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Student attitudes toward interprofessionalism were assessed using the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS). While 38 participants (55%) completed the survey prior to participation in this initiative, only 21 individuals completed the follow-up survey After participation, there were significant improvements in the competency and autonomy (p = 0.02) and perception of actual cooperation (p = 0.04). Students did not report any difference in their perceived need for cooperation after participation in the initiative. These results suggest that student-led community service initiatives can be an effective method for interprofessional education amongst health professional students.

Gender influences on initiation of injecting drug use.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gender differences in illicit drug use patterns and related harms (e.g. HIV infection) are becoming increasingly recognized. However, little research has examined gender differences in risk factors for initiation into injecting drug use. We undertook this study to examine the relationship between gender and risk of injection initiation among street-involved youth and to determine whether risk factors for initiation differed between genders. METHODS: From September 2005 to November 2011, youth were enrolled into the At-Risk Youth Study, a cohort of street-involved youth aged 14-26 in Vancouver, Canada. Cox regression analyses were used to assess variables associated with injection initiation and stratified analyses considered risk factors for injection initiation among male and female participants separately. RESULTS: Among 422 street-involved youth, 133 (32.5%) were female, and 77 individuals initiated injection over study follow-up. Although rates of injection initiation were similar between male and female youth (p = 0.531), stratified analyses demonstrated that, among male youth, risk factors for injection initiation included sex work (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [AHR] = 4.74, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 1.45-15.5) and residence within the city's drug use epicenter (AHR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.12-3.41), whereas among female youth, non-injection crystal methamphetamine use (AHR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.89-11.35) was positively associated with subsequent injection initiation. CONCLUSION: Although rates of initiation into injecting drug use were similar for male and female street youth, the risk factors for initiation were distinct. These findings suggest a possible benefit of uniquely tailoring prevention efforts to high-risk males and females.