Presenter: Sivapriya Ramakrishnan (University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)
Moderator: Doreen Herinek (IP.Global, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
Description:
This study explored final-year physiotherapy students’ perspectives on using an interprofessional collaborative model within a UAE university. Nineteen students participated in gender-segregated focus groups following extensive clinical rotations. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, the study found that students valued interprofessional collaboration for enhancing patient outcomes through effective communication, shared decision-making, and clearer role understanding. However, they also reported barriers, including hierarchical structures, limited exposure to interprofessional teams, and communication challenges. Despite these difficulties, students expressed a strong desire for more structured interprofessional education. The findings highlight the need to strengthen interprofessional learning to better prepare graduates for collaborative clinical practice.
Author(s) and contact:
Sivapriya Ramakrishnan (rsivapriya@outlook.com) & Jaye McIsa