Mindfulness training in healthcare professions: A scoping review of systematic reviews.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of mindfulness training (MT) on mental health and wellbeing in different groups and contexts is well-established. However, the effect of MT on different healthcare professionals' (HCPs) mental health and wellbeing needs to be synthesised, along with a focus on outcomes that are specifically relevant to healthcare settings. The aim of this study is to summarise the effect of MT interventions on HCPs' mental health and wellbeing, to explore its effect on communication skills and to identify potential gaps in the literature. METHODS: A scoping review of systematic reviews (SRs) investigating MT interventions in HCPs was conducted. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted from database inception to 22 February 2023 on Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, Cochrane (CENTRAL), EBSCHOhost CINAHL, Ovid PsycINFO, Web of Science (Core Collection), OpenGrey, TRIP Database and Google Scholar. Snowballing of reference lists and hand-searching were utilised. Risk of bias and quality of included SRs were assessed using the ROBIS and AMSTAR2 tools. RESULTS: Sixteen SRs were included in this review. We found substantial evidence for MT interventions improving mental health and wellbeing across different HCPs, with the exception of burnout, where evidence is mixed. There is a paucity of SRs evaluating communication skills other than empathy. However, the available evidence is suggestive of improvements in self-reported empathy. Details of MT fidelity and dosage are largely absent in the SRs, as is study populations from representative EDI samples. CONCLUSIONS: Synthesis of SRs suggests that MT improves mental health and wellbeing in HCPs. The exception is burnout, where results are inconclusive. Insufficient data exists to evaluate effects of MT on the full spectrum of communication skills. Other HCPs than medicine and nursing are inadequately represented. Further research is required that considers the specific target population of HCPs and MT curriculum, and reports on fidelity, dosage and the effects on communication skills.

A student-led Geriatric Assessment Clinic: Interprofessional education with an older adult population.

Healthcare students have expressed a need for more education on the aging adult population. Interprofessional education (IPE) is a well-known educational model intended to increase students' knowledge, skill, and abilities to use evidence-based practice for improved patient outcomes. At a Midwestern, urban-based university, we have implemented an interprofessional, student-led Geriatric Assessment Clinic in order to allow students in six health professions (including medicine, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and speech language pathology) to practically apply their skills in the aging adult population while learning to work with other healthcare professionals. This holistic clinic is free of cost to the aging adults who participate in it. The following article discusses the purpose, implementation, benefits, and limitations of such a clinic as it relates to both the patients who attend and the students who participate.

Generational situatedness: Challenging generational stereotypes in health professions education.

PURPOSE: Use of generation theory is pervasive within health professions education (HPE) literature, yet its application perpetuates unfounded generalizations that disadvantage learners. The objectives of this thematic analysis are first, to understand how generation theory is applied to 'Generation Z' HPE students and second, to propose a more productive framework for approaching evolutions within HPE. METHODS: A literature search was conducted to identify HPE publications pertaining to Gen Z learners. A thematic analysis was undertaken to identify a priori themes and uncover new themes. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed evidence of three a priori themes as well as four newly identified themes across our sample. CONCLUSION: The near ubiquity of essentialism and generational othering across our sample illustrates the ongoing challenges posed by generationalism in HPE discourse. While traces of generational humility and generational situatedness suggest a more holistic response to evolving student populations, we nevertheless discourage the continued use of generation theory to guide HPE pedagogy and instead urge educators to resist essentializing generalizations by thinking comprehensively about what evolutions in HPE must occur if we are to best prepare our students to practice in present and future healthcare settings.[Box: see text].

Collaborative clinical reasoning learning using an integrated care pathway in undergraduate interprofessional education: An explorative study.

Collaborative clinical reasoning (CCR) is part of interprofessional collaborative practice and aims to negotiate and manage patient problems. An integrated care pathway (ICP) can be used as a framework for developing comprehensive patient care, typically in a clinical setting. This study aims to explore the CCR process in undergraduate interprofessional teams and the use of ICP as guidance in discussing a patient's problem and its comprehensive management. This is a qualitative study following phenomenology and was performed in an interprofessional education (IPE) program held by Health Science Cluster Universitas Indonesia. A total of four observations involving 40 students and four focus-group discussions involving 18 students from different health professions backgrounds were conducted to explore the CCR process using the ICP framework. In-depth interviews with four tutors from different health professions backgrounds and document analysis were also conducted as triangulation processes. This study shows that CCR was held in two stages - individual and group. The ICP framework could be used as a guiding tool in the CCR process to discuss the patient's management and discharge plan. This study also demonstrates that there are several challenges in this learning process, including the clinical case used in the discussion, the need for prior knowledge and previous exposure to IPE and the ICP framework, and health professions' dominance during the discussion. This study provides evidence on learning of CCR using the ICP framework as a guiding tool in a pre-licensure IPE program. This approach is useful for preparing students to develop an interprofessional, comprehensive, and holistic health care plan and to help them understand the roles of each profession.

Disponibilidade para educação interprofissional em cursos orientados por métodos ativos de ensino-aprendizagem / Readiness for interprofessional education in undergraduate courses based on active learning methods

Resumo: Introdução: A educação interprofissional (EIP) desenvolve competências colaborativas, aprimora a segurança do paciente e melhora a qualidade da atenção à saúde. A disponibilidade para aprendizagem compartilhada relaciona-se diretamente com a EIP. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a disponibilidade dos estudantes para a EIP, de acordo com os ciclos e cursos. Método: Trata-se de estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa. Utilizou-se a Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) via formulário eletrônico. Os testes Mann-Whitney e qui-quadrado foram utilizados para analisar respectivamente variáveis contínuas e categóricas. Nas análises para verificar as diferenças nas pontuações dos fatores 1. trabalho em equipe e colaboração (TEC), 2. identidade profissional (IP) e 3. atenção à saúde centrada no paciente (ACP), além da pontuação global da RIPLS, os cursos e ciclos foram comparados por meio do teste Kruskal-Wallis. Resultado: Participaram do estudo 506 estudantes, com taxa de respostas de 32,6%, dos cursos de Enfermagem, Farmácia, Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia, Medicina, Nutrição, Odontologia e Terapia Ocupacional de uma universidade pública brasileira. As pontuações dos fatores 1, 2 e 3 e a pontuação global da RIPLS não apresentaram diferenças entre os sexos. Os estudantes do curso de Farmácia apresentaram menor disponibilidade para o fator 3 (ACP) quando comparados com os alunos de Enfermagem, Fisioterapia, Medicina, Odontologia e Terapia Ocupacional (p = 0,007). Os discentes de Fonoaudiologia e Nutrição apresentaram menor pontuação no mesmo fator em comparação com os de Odontologia e Terapia Ocupacional (p = 0,007). Os estudantes de Farmácia (p = 0,004) e Medicina (p = 0,016) foram menos propícios a obter maior pontuação no fator 1 (TEC), enquanto os de Terapia Ocupacional obtiveram maior chance para maior disponibilidade no mesmo fator (p = 0,024). No fator 2 (IP), os estudantes do quinto ciclo foram menos propensos a atitudes positivas (p = 0,046). Observou-se que os estudantes de Terapia Ocupacional apresentaram atitude mais favorável para a EIP expressa tanto no fator 3 (p = 0,034) quanto na pontuação global (p = 0,027), enquanto os alunos do curso de Farmácia apresentaram menor chance para melhor disponibilidade no fator 3 (p = 0,003) e na pontuação global (p = 0,003). Conclusão: Considerando a relevância da EIP no processo de reorientação da formação de profissionais de saúde para a construção da integralidade do cuidado e alinhamento com o Sistema Único de Saúde, este estudo pretende contribuir para a reflexão acerca das diferenças na disponibilidade para EIP entre cursos de graduação na área da saúde.

Abstract: Introduction: Interprofessional Education (IPE) helps develop collaborative skills, enhance patient safety and improve the quality of health care. Readiness for shared learning is directly related to IPE. Objective: To analyze Readiness for IPE among students, according to the cycles and courses. Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive study adopted a quantitative approach and used the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) via an electronic form. Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests were used to analyze the continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Analyses to ascertain differences between scores for the factors (1) Teamwork and Collaboration (TEC), (2) Professional Identity (IP), (3) Patient-Centered Health Care (ACP), and the overall RIPLS score, used the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare courses and cycles. Result: A response rate of 32.6% was attained from a sample of 506 students from the Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Medicine, Nutrition, Dentistry and Occupational Therapy courses of a Brazilian public university. The scores for factors 1, 2 and 3, and the overall RIPLS score did not differ between genders. Pharmacy students reported a lower Readiness for factor 3 (ACP) compared to students in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Dentistry and Occupational Therapy (p=0.007). Speech therapy and Nutrition reported lower scores for the same factor compared to Dentistry and Occupational Therapy (p=0.007). Pharmacy students (p=0.004) and medicine students (p=0.016) were less likely to obtain a higher score in factor 1(TEC), while Occupational Therapy students were more likely to report greater Readiness in the same factor (p=0.024). In factor 2 (IP), fifth grade students were less likely to have positive attitudes (p=0.046). It was observed that Occupational Therapy students showed a more favorable attitude towards IPE expressed both in factor 3 (p=0.034) and in the overall score (p=0.027), while students in the Pharmacy course were less likely to report better readiness in factor 3 (p=0.003) and in the overall score (p=0.003). Conclusion: Considering the relevance of IPE in the process of redirecting health care training to build comprehensive care and ensure alignment with the Unified Health System, this study aims to reflect on the differences in readiness for IPE between undergraduate courses in health area.

Is emotional intelligence related to objective parameters of academic performance in medical, dental, and nursing students: A systematic review.

Background: Current research in medical education is increasingly exploring the relevance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the successful performance of health-care people. As assessments of core domains are markers of actual performance of the student when he or she is not observed, this systematic review was aimed to answer the question "what is the influence of EI on objective parameters of academic performance in undergraduate medical, dental, and nursing students aged 18-30 years?" Methods: Databases were systematically searched for empirical studies which measured EI of medical, nursing, or dental undergraduate students and compared it with academic performance during graduation years from January 1, 2000, to August 30, 2016. Quality appraisal and data abstraction was done by two independent authors. Results: Six hundred and twenty-three articles were retrieved from systematic search. Of these, 25 articles were selected. Quality appraisal further led to exclusion of two studies which did not meet ethical criterion. Medical undergraduates were included in 12, dental in 4, and nursing in 7 studies. Four studies examined the relationship of EI with clinical skills, 8 with communication skills, and 18 with overall academic performance. Discussion: The findings of review show that EI has a greater role in academic success of clinical year medical and dental students. Although the review has addressed different rungs of the health-care profession separately, it preludes that better EI skills of health-care team will have a holistic impact on health-care improvement.

Resiliency and Self-Care Behaviors in Health Professional Schools.

Background: Resilience is crucial for students in health schools as care becomes more complex and as the adjustment to meet patient, environmental, and professional demands with success can seem a daunting challenge. Self-care activities can support the development of resilience in the student population. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe self-care practices, health-promoting behaviors, and resilience among students, faculty, and staff of the health professional schools at a large metropolitan university. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of data from 148 participants. Analysis included descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, crosstabs, and Pearson correlations. Results: Resilience was lower among students than among faculty and staff. The most frequent self-care activities were humor and music. Resilience was significantly correlated with the self-care behaviors of praying (p = .006), healthy sleeping habits (p = .024), reading (p = .007), and mindful acceptance (p = .025); yoga and meditation were not significantly correlated with resilience.

Eat Like a Chef: A Mindful Eating Intervention for Health Care Providers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare changes in mindful eating habits between students receiving a mindful eating intervention (MEI) vs those who were engaged in usual course work. METHODS: From 2017 to 2019, 109 nutrition and medical students completed a quasi-experimental study, including usual course work either with or without the addition of a 5-week MEI. The Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) was completed before and after the MEI. Repeated measures MANOVA was used to detect differences in changes in the overall MEQ score and its 5 subscales between groups. RESULTS: Within the MEI group (n = 64), overall MEQ, disinhibition, and eating with awareness scores increased significantly (P < .001, P < .001, and P = .004, respectively). No significant changes were noted within the comparison group (n = 45). Significant between-group differences were noted for the changes in the overall MEQ (P = .03) and disinhibition scores (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: MEI participation may improve students' overall mindful eating scores. Future research could assess a larger cohort of participants, including health care professionals from other disciplines, assess additional mindfulness measures, and follow students for a longer period to determine the long-term effects on participants' mindful eating.

A systematic review of the factors - enablers and barriers - affecting e-learning in health sciences education.

BACKGROUND: Recently, much attention has been given to e-learning in higher education as it provides better access to learning resources online, utilising technology - regardless of learners' geographical locations and timescale - to enhance learning. It has now become part of the mainstream in education in the health sciences, including medical, dental, public health, nursing, and other allied health professionals. Despite growing evidence claiming that e-learning is as effective as traditional means of learning, there is very limited evidence available about what works, and when and how e-learning enhances teaching and learning. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise the factors - enablers and barriers - affecting e-learning in health sciences education (el-HSE) that have been reported in the medical literature. METHODS: A systemic review of articles published on e-learning in health sciences education (el-HSE) was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Allied & Complementary Medicine, DH-DATA, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Global Health, from 1980 through 2019, using 'Textword' and 'Thesaurus' search terms. All original articles fulfilling the following criteria were included: (1) e-learning was implemented in health sciences education, and (2) the investigation of the factors - enablers and barriers - about el-HSE related to learning performance or outcomes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, both relevant published and unpublished papers were searched. Data were extracted and quality appraised using QualSyst tools, and synthesised performing thematic analysis. RESULTS: Out of 985 records identified, a total of 162 citations were screened, of which 57 were found to be of relevance to this study. The primary evidence base comprises 24 papers, with two broad categories identified, enablers and barriers, under eight separate themes: facilitate learning; learning in practice; systematic approach to learning; integration of e-learning into curricula; poor motivation and expectation; resource-intensive; not suitable for all disciplines or contents, and lack of IT skills. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified the factors which impact on e-learning: interaction and collaboration between learners and facilitators; considering learners' motivation and expectations; utilising user-friendly technology; and putting learners at the centre of pedagogy. There is significant scope for better understanding of the issues related to enablers and facilitators associated with e-learning, and developing appropriate policies and initiatives to establish when, how and where they fit best, creating a broader framework for making e-learning effective.

Does the delivery of interprofessional education have an effect on stereotypical views of healthcare students in Qatar?

Interprofessional education (IPE) is an evolving educational approach for preparing healthcare professional students to provide patient care in a collaborative team atmosphere. One of the important outcomes to be achieved is understanding the stereotypical views of health professionals held by themselves and by others to eventually reduce negative and harmful stereotypes and to foster an environment of mutual respect and trust amongst healthcare professionals. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a change in healthcare students' stereotypical belief about the characteristics of healthcare professionals before and after an IPE activity focused on smoking cessation. The Student Stereotype Rating Questionnaire (SSRQ) was used to assess the students' stereotype ratings of their professions and other healthcare professions before and after the IPE activity. The ratings were made in relation to nine attributes. Sixty-eight students from five different majors (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Respiratory Therapy) participated in the IPE activity. All the students involved in the activity responded to both the pre and post surveys (response rate, 100%). The participating students' combined ratings revealed a significant change in the perspectives of medical, pharmacy, and respiratory therapy students in all of the nine attributes. While for public health students, differences were significant in two aspects: professional competence and practical skills. Three central themes emerged after the IPE session from the open-ended questions: roles and responsibilities, patient-centered care, and integrated healthcare team. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that stereotyping exists among different healthcare profession student groups in Qatar and that IPE can impact both hetero-stereotypes and auto-stereotypes. The positive change in perception following the IPE activity indicates the effectiveness and the value of these short duration IPE activities in negating stereotypical views.

How Teachers Meet in Interdisciplinary Teams: Hangouts, Distribution Centers, and Melting Pots.

PURPOSE: To explore team learning processes among interdisciplinary teacher teams in the development of integrated health professions education and to investigate students' perspectives on the quality of the educational courses. METHOD: Using an exploratory, sequential mixed-methods design, the first author conducted 17 vignette-guided, semistructured interviews with teachers originating from diverse disciplines. These teachers worked in different courses of integrated, undergraduate health professions programs at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands. The interview guide and vignettes were based on team learning research. The interviews sought to establish how interdisciplinary teacher team members work together on integrated curricula. The vignettes reflected constructs of team learning processes: sharing, co-construction, and constructive conflict. Data were collected between November 2017 and March 2018 and analyzed using template analysis. Sequentially, course evaluation data were used to provide a descriptive analysis of students' perspectives on educational quality (course organization, structure, learning effect, and alignment). RESULTS: Three team approaches were identified. In fragmented teams or "hangouts," teachers individually worked on tasks that they were interested in, leaving their disciplinary mark. Framework-guided teams or "distribution centers" aimed to work within the given frameworks and organizational expectations, striving for disciplinary balance. Integrated teacher teams or "melting pots" used an interdisciplinary approach on all topics and put students at the center. Integrated teams reflected high-level team learning processes and were most satisfied with their (team)work. In contrast, fragmented and framework-guided teams mainly reflected low-level team learning processes. Students evaluated courses of integrated teacher teams highest on all investigated quality items (course organization, structure, learning effect, and alignment). CONCLUSIONS: Successful interdisciplinary teacher teams are represented by an integrated approach with high-level team learning behavior and the best course evaluations. Therefore, health professions education management should actively encourage and facilitate integrated teacher teamwork.

Influence of Future Prescribers' Personal and Clinical Experiences With Opioids on Plans to Treat Patients With Opioid Use Disorder.

CONTEXT: Recreational use of opioids is a growing problem in the United States, particularly in the Midwest. Educators have called for inclusion of pain- and opioid-specific courses in health professional school curricula, yet more research is needed to address future prescribers' beliefs, experiences, and postgraduate plans related to opioids. OBJECTIVE: To examine health professional students' perceived severity of the opioid crisis and opioid-related beliefs, experiences, and postgraduate plans. METHODS: Using a descriptive, cross-sectional design, researchers evaluated health professional students from 3 academic programs (nurse practitioner [NP], physician assistant [PA], and doctor of osteopathic medicine [DO]) using a 25-item survey that assessed perceived opioid crisis severity and opioid-related beliefs, experiences, and postgraduate plans. Demographics of respondents were assessed using descriptive statistics and frequencies. Responses were compared between academic programs with 1-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests, and relationships between students' experiences and postgraduate plans were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 491 students (mean [SD] age, 27.2 [5.4] years; 62.7% female; 68.2% DO students) participated in the survey (response rate, 40.4%). The opioid crisis was perceived to be severely impacting the health care system (mean [SD] score, 79.7 [16.8] out of 100), and most respondents (415 [84.5%]) reported that opioid use affected their communities. Clinical experience varied by program, with NP students (75 [81.5%]) reporting the most experience treating acute overdose. Most respondents (317 [64.6%]) agreed that their postgraduate practice would involve caring for patients addicted to opioids; however, only 232 students (47.3%) felt confident in their ability to treat patients with addiction. Experiences managing acute overdose and handling drug-seeking behavior were positively associated with a belief that postgraduate work would involve working with patients with addiction (U=38,275.5, Z=5.92, P<.001; U=25,346.0, Z=4.94, P<.001) and confidence in treating patients with opioid addictions (U=36,806.5, Z=4.96, P<.001; U=23,765.5, Z=3.66, P<.001). CONCLUSION: Although health professional students had similar beliefs and perceptions regarding the opioid crisis, there were notable differences between academic programs. Students with clinical opioid experiences were more likely to plan on working with patients addicted to opioids and be confident in treating these patients. Thus, the inclusion of experiential learning in the medical curricula may be beneficial for both students and their future patients.

Interprofessional Healthcare Students' Perceptions of a Simulation-Based Learning Experience.

Academic healthcare programs are incorporating interprofessional education (IPE) into students' learning experiences in order to prepare students for optimal clinical practice. This paper describes a simulation-based learning experience (SBLE) designed to encourage students (n = 130) from six healthcare professions to learn more about interprofessional communication, roles and responsibilities of the healthcare team, and knowledge of interprofessional collaborative practice. Data analysis showed statistically significant differences in participants' perceptions of roles/responsibilities for collaborative practice (p = 0.001) and the patient outcomes from collaborative practice (p = 0.002). Additionally, participants identified the importance of holistic, patient-centered care, a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of healthcare team members, and a greater desire to participate in IPE activities. Utilizing SBLE with students in athletic training, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and psychology led to positive perceptions of IPE and collaborative practice.

Improving Health Care Career Pipeline Programs for Underrepresented Students: Program Design that Makes a Difference.

BACKGROUND: Health care career pipeline training programs are one solution to increasing the number of minority and underrepresented health care providers. The Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC) Research Fellows Program, a tri-institutional effort between the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), and Northwestern University (NU), provides a holistic, 8-week summer research fellowship that facilitates self-reflection, professional development, and exposes and guides the novice undergraduate and postbaccalaureate student toward a health care career inclusive of research and scientific discovery. OBJECTIVES: The number of underrepresented students achieving health care careers is minimal. We outline curriculum development, innovation, lessons learned, and selected outcomes from the first three cohorts of the ChicagoCHEC Research Fellows program. METHODS: A tri-institutional, collaborative curricular team was formed consisting of research faculty and staff at NEIU, UIC and NU. Once accepted, fellows experience a cohort model curriculum with particular emphasis to mindful inclusion of nontraditional students. The ChicagoCHEC Research Fellows Program uses evidence-based mentorship models, group reflection, and extensive program evaluation to continuously improve its program model. CONCLUSIONS: The 48 fellow alumni from the first 3 years reported high satisfaction with the program and will continued to be tracked for academic success. The ChicagoCHEC Research Fellows program will continue to provide academic and professional tools, sponsorship, and mentorship opportunities to underrepresented students as they progress toward health care careers. A program such as the ChicagoCHEC Fellows Program can serve as a useful model for increasing the number of minority researchers in health care careers.

Developing the Network Pain Rehabilitation Limburg: a feasibility study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Patients having chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) face challenges as mismatches often exist between the complexity of patient's pain problem and the rehabilitation treatment offered. This can result in less efficient care for the patient and increased medical shopping. The Network Pain Rehabilitation Limburg (NPRL), a transmural integrated healthcare network, will be designed to improve daily care for patients with CMP. NPRL focusses on improving patient's level of functioning despite pain by stimulating a biopsychosocial approach given by all involved healthcare professionals. A feasibility study will be performed which will give insight into the barriers and facilitators, perceived value, acceptability and implementation strategies for NPRL. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study has a three-phase iterative and incremental design, based on key principles of a user-centred design. Mixed methods will be used in which healthcare professionals and patients involved in NPRL will participate. In phase 1, NPRL will be developed and healthcare professionals educated. Phase 2 focusses on the implementation and phase 3 on the transferability of NPRL. In addition, preliminary data on patient's work status, general health and participation level will be collected. The qualitative results of each phase will be analysed following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and will be used to refine NPRL in daily practise. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this feasibility study will form the basis for refinement of NPRL and planning of a large-scale process and effect evaluation of the Quadruple Aim outcomes. Dissemination will include publications and presentations at national and international conferences. Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Medical Ethics Committee Z, the Netherlands, METC 17 N-133.

Academic education in health profession programs, knowledge and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by university students.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of academic education in health professions programs with the knowledge and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) by university students and to determine whether CAM can promote a healthy university environment. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 512 university students enrolled in health professions programs in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, from April to November 2017. The Assessment Tool for Health Promotion at the University was used to collect sociodemographic, academic and CAM data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed considering the outcomes "knowledge of CAM" and "CAM in the promotion of a healthy university environment" using SPSS Statistic version 20.0. RESULTS: Data from 512 participants were analyzed. Women (n = 357; 69.7%), young students (n = 393; 76.8%) and unemployed students (n = 429; 83.8%) predominated. Knowledge of CAM was associated with health profession program (OR = 0.934; p = 0.047), paternal education (OR = 0.641; p = 0.024), employment (OR = 0.542; p = 0.028) and participation in extracurricular activities (OR = 1.275; p = 0.007). There was a proportional difference between knowledge and use of CAM ranging from 2:1 to 11:1 among the 21 modalities. University students believed that CAM could promote a healthy university environment (p = 0.000), which was influenced by gender (OR = 2.089; p = 0.004) and knowledge of CAM (OR = 16.601; p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: University students' knowledge of CAM was influenced by the health profession program, paternal education, employment and participation in extracurricular activities. The percentage of use of CAM modalities was lower than the percentage of knowledge. University students' belief that CAM could foster a healthy university environment is influenced by gender and knowledge of CAM.

An Undergraduate Course Combining Interprofessional Education and Complementary Health Approaches Learning Objectives: Successful Integrative Learning that Improves Interest and Reduces Redundancy.

BACKGROUND: Literature suggests interprofessional education (IPE) and education about complementary therapies for health sciences students may be effectively combined. METHODS: A novel 30-hour, 10-week course for interprofessional undergraduate health sciences students combining IPE and complementary therapies learning objectives was developed and offered in 2012 (N = 71), 2013 (N = 120) and 2014 (N = 140). Pre-post mixed methods measurement occurred in three groups: one taking combined IPE-complementary therapies curriculum, and two control groups (one following non-specialized IPE curriculum, and one following combined IPE-continuing care curriculum). The students' attitudinal changes towards IPE and complementary therapies, and their comfort collaborating with students in other health sciences programs were measured using scales. Qualitative evaluation was conducted via content analysis of team-based reflective essays of their opinions towards what they learned about IPE and complementary therapies, and how it changed during the course. RESULTS: Quantitative results exhibited ceiling effects, revealing little change or difference between groups on all measures, with the exception of the Health Professional Collaborative Competency Perception Scale which indicated the students taking the IPE-complementary therapies course reported increased comfort collaborating in comparison with control groups. Qualitative results indicated students: increased their awareness and knowledge about complementary therapies, and were inspired to learn more, appreciated the need for collaboration and communication, desired to be more patient-centered, and wove concepts related to IPE and complementary therapies together. CONCLUSION: Combining IPE initiatives and basic complementary therapies education can save curricular time, and develop healthcare professionals who appear to be more ready to provide team-based, patient-centered care.

Integrating Oral and Overall Health Care: Building a Foundation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice.

Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional practice (IPP) are game-changers. They will completely alter the way that health professionals are educated and the way that health care is delivered. The transition from our current silo-based approach to team-based education and practice is under way, and there is nothing that can be done to stop them from happening. This article will provide a historical context to the development of IPE in health professions education, identify ways in which the dental professions have addressed these developments, and provide recommendations for opportunities for the dental professions to engage in IPE and IPP, especially for the benefit of the people we serve as patients and current students and learners who will be practicing in a collaborative environment with other health professionals in the future.

Developing a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program with multiple health professions programs.

Substance use is a major public health concern in the United States; only a fraction of people needing treatment for substance use receive care. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training is one strategy to increase the identification and treatment of substance use. Integrated approaches to SBIRT delivery assure that every patient will be screened regardless of when and how they enter the healthcare system. The Collaborative SBIRT Training program at the University of New England includes 10 different health disciplines in its educational model (dental hygiene, dental medicine, nursing, occupation therapy, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistants, social work, physical therapy, and health, wellness, and occupational studies). This article describes the development and implementation of this program, including steps taken to integrate SBIRT into diverse curricula, challenges and opportunities noted, and preliminary findings observed.