A mixed methods approach to assess the impact of an interprofessional education medical error simulation

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the impact of a single, half-day interprofessional education (IPE) simulation on disclosing medical errors, and to compare the impacts on pharmacy students with those on students from other health professional programs. Methods. A mixed methods approach was used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the immediate and persistent outcomes of a realistic medical error disclosure simulation. Anonymous pre-and post-simulation quantitative data were collected using a validated attitudinal survey instrument administered at the time of the simulation. To assess more sustained impacts of the simulation, uni-professional focus groups were held several months following the simulation. Results. The survey analysis showed that a significant positive change in attitudes towards teamwork, roles and responsibilities occurred in students in most of the professions represented, with pharmacy students experiencing positive changes across a wider range of interprofessional attitudes. The focus group results showed that there were persistent impacts across all professions on learners’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and confidence in disclosing medical errors in interprofessional teams. Conclusion. Mixed methods analysis of a high-fidelity IPE error disclosure simulation demonstrated that single IPE activities, if realistic, can have significant positive impacts on students’ interprofes-sional attitudes and competencies, and increase confidence in conducting team-based error disclosures.