Health Care Interns’ Perception of Interprofessional Education: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Interprofessional Education (IPE) plays a pivotal role in preparing healthcare interns for collaborative practice to improve patient outcomes, especially in areas like infection control. Aim:To assess healthcare interns’ perceptions of IPE and collaborative practice (CP), specifically in the context of infection control.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among MBBS, nursing, and paramedical interns at a tertiary care institute in South India. A structured questionnaire assessed their attitudes toward communication, teamwork, shared responsibility, and interprofessional learning. Data were analyzed for mean scores and professional group comparisons.

Results: Paramedical interns showed more positive attitudes in communication and teamwork domains compared to others (p < 0.05). A significant number of participants agreed that IPE improved their understanding of infection control and patient-centered care.

Conclusions: The study highlights the need for structured IPE modules within internship training, focusing on collaborative skills and infection prevention. This model can be instrumental in reducing healthcare-associated infections through a team-based approach.