Doctor of Physical Therapy Students’ Perceptions of Collaborative Practice Skills Following Two Separate Interprofessional Education Forums

Preparing Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students to participate in interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) is essential for improving patient-centered care. This study is a retrospective review of three DPT student cohorts' (n = 106) perceived IPCP competence after completing a 1.5-hour online interprofessional (IP) forum compared with students from 11 other health professions during the Fall and Spring semester. DPT students participated in an 8-week clinical education experience between IP forums. Pre- and post-IP forum self-reported competencies were compared between Spring and Fall semesters using the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS). After participation in the Spring IP forum, students' ICCAS scores increased in all ICCAS subscales with large effect sizes. Students reported a perceived decline in these skills in the 4 months between Spring and Fall IP forums, followed by a restoration of IP skill levels after participating in the Fall IP forum. These results indicate participation in IP forums has a positive impact on students' IPCP skill perception; however, repeated IP learning experiences may be beneficial if physical therapy students are expected to embrace collaborative practice to enhance patient outcomes. Educators should consider providing both academic and clinical opportunities to ensure IPCP skills are maintained.