Mrs Katie Cole1, Mrs Sarah Chapman1
1Canberra Health Service, Canberra, Australia
Introduction
The Allied Health Graduate Program (AHGP) has been in place since 2013. The program runs once to twice each year. It includes six modules designed to support transition to practice for allied health professionals through facilitating interprofessional capabilities and networks. The objective of this study is to evaluate participants’ experience of the program and its impact on interprofessional capabilities.
Methods
A mixed methods evaluation was conducted from 2013 to 2019 and included:
- participants completing the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) pre and post program to measure change in beliefs, behaviours, and attitudes towards working with other disciplines; and
- focus groups with participants three months post program.
Results
Findings indicate that:
- post program ISVS scores are significantly higher (more collaborative) than pre-program (p<.001) for all programs;
- themes from qualitative analysis indicate the program supports graduates to shape practice, feel part of a health community and identify collaboration as a valuable graduate experience.
Conclusion
The AHGP supports new graduates’ positive transition into the Canberra Health workforce. This includes contributing to specific improvements in interprofessional capabilities.
Clinical Significance
The World Health Organisation (2010) states that ‘collaborative practice strengthens health systems and improves health outcomes. Designing graduate programs to encourage interprofessional collaboration may support new graduates to develop interprofessional skills early in their careers and contribute to better health systems and outcomes.
References
World Health Organisation (2010). Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice. http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/framework_action/en/
Biography:
Bio to come.