Can a simulated hospital interprofessional experience between Allied Health and nursing students change self-efficacy beliefs?

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in a hospital simulation experience could change the students’ self-efficacy to engage in interprofessional behaviors. This single-group pre-test and post-test design study utilized students from: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Nursing programs. The student assumed their roles as health-care practitioners collaboratively in a simulated hospital IPE session (SHIPES) while they managed patients admitted to the hospital played by live actors. The student participants completed the Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning (SEIEL) questionnaire that consists of a total score and two subscales scores (Interprofessional interaction and Interprofessional team evaluation and feedback) before and after the SHIPES. Results: significant (p<0.001) increase in the total and two subscales scores indicating an increased student self-efficacy to engage in interprofessional learning after participation in the SHIPES. Increased self-efficacy is a positive indicator of future behavior and could facilitate more interprofessional collaboration in clinical settings.