Effects of Home-Based Care Inter-Professional Education on Students’ Outcomes: Mahasarakham University Experiences

This mixed-method research aimed to implement inter-professional education (IPE) as a training process for producing and shaping health and social sciences professionals in three faculties: Medicine, Pharmacy, and Architecture, Urban Design and Creative Arts in Mahasarakham University (MSU), Thailand. Two hundred thirty-two students who registered as second-year students in the 2015 academic year, and third-year students in the 2016 academic year, and fifty patients in six catchment areas of the Faculty of Medicine Hospital, MSU, participated in the study. Six steps of IPE implementation were involved. They were conducted by twenty-four teachers from three faculties, twelve health volunteers in six communities, and five municipality officers. After the IPE activities, students showed significant improvement in their attitudes towards collaborative teamwork. Their performance with regard to IPE home-based care for medical patients improved substantially from year 2 to year 3 (73.4% and 80.9%, p = 0.001). Patients and community representatives were satisfied with students’ home visits, and scored them at > 80%. The after-action review among all of the teachers provided information about their views on IPE projects and their recommendations with respect to inter-professional education. IPE schemes can produce beneficial effects for students, teachers, and patients in the community. As a study result of MSU experience, we recommended IPE for higher education institutions.