Interprofessional education (IPE) is a key factor, preparing students for collaboration to improve quality in healthcare. Current literature implies that IPE research needs to be relevant for students, teachers and stakeholders ensuring that research answers the most important research issues. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish outcomes of a partnership between students, teachers and clinicians to rank the top 10 research priorities for IPE.
James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership (JLA).
Higher health education in Sweden.
Students, teachers and healthcare professionals (clinicians).
According to the JLA process, a steering committee was established. A pilot survey to gather research uncertainties highly relevant for participants was performed and tested by the content validity index. The pilot survey was followed by a main survey with 53 participants and a final workshop to determine the top 10 research priorities.
The content validity index was satisfactory for 23 out of 27 research uncertainties, followed by minor changes and removal of three uncertainties. After processing the 24 uncertainties from the main survey, 21 remained in the workshop. The final top 10 research priorities included measurements to evaluate IPE, promoting and hindering factors for IPE, educational models for IPE, longitudinal studies on effects from IPE and implementation of IPE.
The priorities represent consensus areas from students, teachers and clinicians to guide future research and justify and inform strategic allocation of research funding.