Evaluation of multidisciplinary and pharmacy-only student-run clinics on student's perceptions of interprofessional roles

Abstract Background and purpose To determine how participation in multidisciplinary training workshops and student-run clinics impacts students’ perceptions of the role of other health professions. Student perceptions from pharmacy-only versus multidisciplinary smoking cessation clinics were also compared. Education activity and setting Students from pharmacy, osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, and clinical psychology programs participated in two multidisciplinary smoking cessation training sessions, then provided smoking cessation services to the underserved population in either a multidisciplinary or pharmacy-only student-run smoking cessation clinic. Students completed a survey regarding the roles of other healthcare professionals prior to the workshops, after the workshops, and after the smoking cessation clinic. Findings Fifty-six students attended both smoking cessation training sessions and showed statistically significant increases in familiarity and confidence related to smoking cessation after the training workshops. Forty-two students participated in the ten smoking cessations clinics, which included six multidisciplinary clinics and four pharmacy-only clinics. A statistically significant improvement was seen between the pre-workshop survey and post-clinic survey regarding the students’ perception of the roles of other healthcare providers in a smoking cessation clinic. Students who participated within the multidisciplinary smoking cessation clinics experienced a significantly greater impact on their perceptions of other healthcare providers than students who participated in the pharmacy-only clinics. Summary Student participation in a student-run free clinic is an effective method to increase role awareness of other health professional students in an underserved setting.