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This research explored learners’ and facilitators’ views of an interprofessional education medicines pilot study involving medical students and pharmacy interns. Qualitative feedback was gathered from the participating learners and a facilitator focus group was undertaken. Medical student and pharmacy intern learners found the medicines topic and discipline grouping facilitated their learning. Some topics and groups of disciplines are ideally matched for IPE and such a nexus should be capitalised upon.

IPE programs for pre-registration health science students are largely offered within one institution. Sometimes, e.g. in small or regional institutions, or where larger institutions do not offer particular professional programs, it may be necessary to partner with other institutions to offer IPE. This study explored teacher perspectives of forming inter-institutional partnerships IPE. An interpretive descriptive approach was used to thematically analyse data from three focus groups.

Six strategies are designed to overcome commonly recognised problems and enable first-time teachers to more confidently develop or engage in IPE, thus supporting students to attain skills in interprofessional collaboration.  These include: join an existing IPE team; observe and collaborate with experienced IPE teachers; contribute to the development of new IPE programs; seek institutional support; undertake IPE evaluation and research; and gain high-level institutional endorsement.

As part of a clinical -based rotational undergraduate interprofessional programme, an assessment was devised which was construed as being socially accountable. An interprofessional programme, with cohorts of students from six different health professions, was evaluated in a number of ways. Students completed pre and post questionnaires about many aspects of the programme and also participated in focus groups. The social accountability of the key assignment emerged as important for both students and the community agencies that provided the clinical experience for students.

Separate and sequential interprofessional groups of students from seven health professions participated in focus groups after an innovative and immersive interprofessional programme in rural New Zealand. All participating students had prior exposure during their respective degrees to theoretical perspectives of indigenous health. Analysis revealed that for these groups of students the real-life exposure to an indigenous community was positively regarded and, in some instances, transformative.

Describes the results of a qualitative study to understand more about how health professionals adapt to their role as medical students. The most common driver to retrain was a desire to seek a fresh challenge; however, returning to student status after life as an autonomous health professional was initially very uncomfortable.

Describes the results of a study to explore how dental students involved in an experiential IPE programme in New Zealand made sense of engaging in this unfamiliar learning environment. Identified challenges suggested that dental students may need extra preparation prior to participating in IPE programs.

Investigates perceptions and associated learning outcomes of a dental clinic-based IPE experience between pharmacy and dentistry students. Findings support further development of IPE between pharmacy and dentistry students within a dental clinic but call for the redesign of the activity using a longitudinal approach.

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