“Getting Everyone on the Same Page”: Interprofessional Team Training to Develop Shared Mental Models on Interprofessional Rounds

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a team training program to support shared mental model (SMM) development in interprofessional rounds. Design and Participants: A three-arm randomized controlled trial study was conducted for interprofessional teams of 207 health profession learners who were randomized into three groups. Program Description: The full team training program included a didactic training part on cognitive tools and a virtual simulation to support clinical teamwork in interprofessional round. Group 1 was assigned to the full program, group 2 to the didactic part, and group 3 (control group) with no intervention. The main outcome measure was team performance in full scale simulation. Secondary outcome was interprofessional attitudes. Program Evaluation: Teamwork performance and interprofessional attitude scores of the full intervention group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. The two intervention groups had significantly higher (P < 0.05) attitude scores on interprofessional teamwork compared with the control group. Discussion: Our study indicates the need of both cognitive tools and experiential learning modalities to foster SMM development for the delivery of optimal clinical teamwork performances. Given its scalability and practicality, we anticipate a greater role for virtual simulations to support interprofessional team training.