Physiotherapy Faculty Members and Students Readiness with Interprofessional Education

Abstract

Background: This study assessed readiness of faculty members and undergraduate physiotherapy students towards interprofessional education. Methods: A cross sectional survey with simple random purposive sampling was used for this study. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) was administered to participating physiotherapy faculty members’ and students. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics while the correlation based on the faculty
members and students’ gender, level of study and year of study were identified using inferential statistics. Results: This study enlisted 37 faculty members and 92 physiotherapy students, and the response rate was 100%. The p-value was > 0.05, indicating that there was a significant difference in faculty and physiotherapy students' readiness for interprofessional education. Faculty members reported lower readiness (M = 61.05, SD = 17.98) than students (M = 74.93, SD = 6.20). There was no correlation, significant between the student's gender, level of study, or year of
study and their readiness for interprofessional education, as all the p-values were < 0.05. Diploma students were reported as being more ready than degree students, female students showed more readiness than male students and third year students reported more readiness than the other year students for interprofessional education. Conclusion: Malaysian physiotherapy students showed a higher interest in interprofessional education as compared to their faculty members. This, however, are merely a gauge of preparation prior to the start of a formal interprofessional
academic session. To promote interprofessional activities, more research on physiotherapy personnel is encouraged. The findings of this study have offered a focal point for developing Interprofessional learning practices between the physiotherapy department and the university's other health departments.