Interprofessional Education: Exploring the Perspective of Psychology and Physiotherapy Students at a Malaysian Private University

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Interprofessional education (IPE) is an essential component of healthcare training, designed to foster collaboration and improve patient outcomes by enabling students from different disciplines to learn with, from, and about each other. This study explores the perspective of healthcare students on IPE, focusing on their experiences, perceived benefits, challenges, and recommendations for improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with physiotherapy and psychology study participants to gain insights into their engagement with interprofessional learning. RESULTS: The findings revealed that participants generally recognize the value of IPE in enhancing communication skills, teamwork, and understanding of different professional roles. However, challenges such as limited structured opportunities for collaboration and misconceptions about the programme among other healthcare students were also identified. Participants suggested the need for more integrated and practical IPE experiences to bridge the gap between theory and practice among healthcare profession students. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of refining IPE programmes to better prepare healthcare students for effective interprofessional collaboration in healthcare settings.