Objective 5: Describe the Objectives of an IPE Placement

Goal vs. Objective??

Goal a broad educational objective; communicates general purpose
Objective a specific measureable outcome

Why have IPE objectives?

Having specific IPE objectives for the placement as well as profession specific objectives helps

  • the student and clinical team appreciate the IP focus of the placement
  • direct the IPE content of the placement
  • to select IPE learning activities
  • to select objective evaluation methods to assess IP collaborative practice competencies

When developing objectives you must think “How can I evaluate this?”

8 examples of objectives for an IPE placement:

  1. To increase knowledge of the scopes of practice of other disciplines in providing quality patient care (similarities, differences and potential areas of role overlap and conflict)
  2. To increase understanding and respect for the values and beliefs that differentiate the various health professions
  3. To develop the ability to effectively represent one’s own profession to patients and colleagues
  4. To appraise the relationship between one’s own profession and the background, scope and roles of other healthcare professionals.
  5. To enhance one’s understanding of the role of the patient/client
  6. To demonstrate effective communication skills with student colleagues and team members from other professions/disciplines and with patients and families
  7. To demonstrate understanding of the essentials for collaborative teamwork including interprofessional team dynamics, communication skills and conflict resolution within the context of a well-functioning team.
  8. To evaluate one’s own ability to work effectively in a team.

The CLU may have its own more specific IPE goals for the placement and students may also develop their own personal goals for the IPE component of their placement, just as they do for their specific clinical skills component.

Developing IPE Program Goals

Getting into the habit of using “S.M.A.R.T.” goals ensures objectivity and the ability to fairly evaluate the outcome of the placement and student achievement.

(Ref. http://www.topachievement.com/smart.html )

S Specific
M Measurable
A Attainable
R Realistic
T Timely

Specific

A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions:

  • Who: Who is involved?
  • What: What do I want to accomplish?
  • Where: Identify a location.
  • When: Establish a time frame.
  • Which: Identify requirements and constraints.
  • Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

For example: A general goal would be: “I want to learn more about other professions”.

A specific goal is “By the end of this placement, I want to be able to describe the roles of other health professionals on the palliative care team so that I appreciate their contribution to patient care”.

Measurable

Establish criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal.

To determine if the goal is measurable, ask questions such as...How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

For example: “By the end of the IP placement I will be participating fully in team meetings as a health care professional (PT/OT/nurse etc) to support patients’ healthcare outcomes”.

As IP placements are course credits student attainment of IP competencies (and specific professional competencies) will be measured using a summative evaluation form.

Attainable

IP goals related to development of collaborative and communication skills are less concrete than learning specific clinical skills and techniques. Some students are already possessed with good personal interactive “people” skills and some need to work on these to attain the attitudes and abilities to be effective team members. The basic IP objectives for collaborative practice should be attainable by all students in the IP placement.

Realistic

To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which the student is both willing and able to work. The goal is realistic if it can be accomplished during the placement.

It is realistic to assume that, during the placement, students will increase their knowledge and understanding of the importance of interprofessional collaboration in the delivery of health care.

Timely

The goals should be attainable within the timeframe of the placement. By the end of the placement a student should demonstrate competency in each of the 8 sample goals listed above.

Your CLU specific IPE learning objectives will likely be linked to collaborative competencies - these have been outlined in the literature and can provide you with a starting point.