Practicing Collaborative Skills through an Interprofessional Interview with Individuals Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

Objective: To enhance student appreciation for collaboration/team-based care through participation in an interprofessional (IP) history-taking opportunity with individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Eighty-eight self-selected students from Louisiana State University Health-New Orleans and Xavier University College of Pharmacy participated in an IP elective course which included conducting an IP interview with a PD patient. To assess student perspectives regarding the IP interview, the students completed a thirteen item survey and reflection assignment. Results: Eighty-six students completed the survey and twenty-four completed the reflection assignment. 95% of students agreed the team-based interview and the development of an IP plan of care increased their awareness of the multiple perspectives to consider in designing a care plan. The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated a statistically significant difference among programs for survey question numbers two and four. All four IP education competencies (value and ethics, roles/responsibilities, interprofessional communication, teams and teamwork) were highlighted in the reflection assignment. Conclusions: The IP interview allowed students to gain knowledge of PD, better understand the role of other disciplines, and create a holistic plan of care.