Interprofessional education in the integrated medical education and health care system: A content analysis

Introduction: The current literature supports the inclusion ofinter-professional education in healthcare education. Changes inthe structure and nature of the integrated medical education andhealthcare system provide some opportunities for interprofessionaleducation among various professions. This study is an attemptto determine the perceptions of students and faculty membersabout interprofessional education in the context of the medicaleducation and healthcare system.Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conductedusing purposeful sampling in 2012. Thirteen semi-structuredinterviews were conducted with 6 faculty members and 7 studentsat Tehran and Iran Universities of Medical Sciences. Datacollection and analysis were concurrent.Results: Data analysis revealed four categories and ninesubcategories. The categories emerging from individualinterviews were “educational structure”, “mediating factors”,“conceptual understanding”, and “professional identity”. Thesecategories are explained using quotes derived from the data.Conclusion: Matching the existing educational context andstructure with IPE through removing barriers and planning toprepare the required resources and facilities can solve numerousproblems associated with implementation and design of interprofessionaltraining programs in Iran. In this way, promotingthe development of a cooperative rather than a competitivelearning and working atmosphere should be taken into account.The present findings will assist the managers and policy makersto consider IPE as a useful strategy in the integrated medicaleducation and healthcare system.Keywords: Interprofessional relations; Qualitative research; Medical education