How do former medical and nursing undergraduates describe their learning on an interprofessional training Ward 12–18 months later? – A retrospective qualitative analysis

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional training wards (IPTWs) seem to deliver good results in terms of development of interprofessional competencies. However, evidence of long-term effects of these training wards on learners’ competency development is lacking and little is known about retrospective evaluation of IPTWs. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the retrospective evaluation of competency development and interprofessional collaboration of former undergraduates 12 or more months after a placement on an IPTW. METHODS: Eight follow-up interviews were conducted with four nursing and four medical professionals 12–18 months after they had finished a placement on an ITPW throughout their vocational training. Interviews were translated verbatim and analysed deductively and inductively based on qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The qualitative content analyses deductively identified two main categories regarding the research question, namely the uniqueness of the programme and interprofessional competencies developed by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. Sub categories were identified inductively, representing the perceived competency development and the learning opportunities on the IPTW as compared to other clinical placements throughout vocational training and in transition to practice. Interviewees seemed to have developed competencies that are important for interprofessional collaboration such as communication, roles and responsibilities, as well as competencies in patient care and management. Considered beneficial for learning were the opportunity to work self-responsibly and the interprofessional collaboration on the IPTW, both of which were neither possible in almost any other placement nor in transition to practice. CONCLUSION: Findings show that IPTWs can be sufficient in competency development and role clarification and are perceived positively by learners, but structures in clinical practice can impede sustaining competency development and efficient interprofessional collaboration.