Background: Interdisciplinary research has the
potential to optimize communication, accelerate discoveries and their
translation into practice. Interdisciplinary collaboration is useful in
bringing together professionals from different disciplines in order to share
new ideas, express different perspectives and create new solutions that emerge
from interdisciplinary collaboration and catalyse scientific innovations (VanWormer,
Lindquist, Robiner, & Finkelstein, 2012). Little is known about student’s
involvement in interdisciplinary practice-based research specially concerning
their perception about their participation in this kind of research process.
This paper is part of a larger interdisciplinary practice-based research
project named Help2Care. Help2Care involves students, teachers and stakeholders
aiming to empower the informal caregiver and the dependent person by
integrating multimedia resources and technology in healthcare. Students were involved in the development of
resources that optimize care among caregivers, dependent person and health care
professionals, integrating networks of formal and informal care. Objectives:
the main objective is to analyze the experience of students involved in an
interdisciplinary team, collaborating in the design of multimedia resources
that impact the quality of life of informal caregivers of the dependent person.
Methods: This is a qualitative study, using thematic content analysis. Ethical
issues were taken into account according to Helsinki declaration. Students from
different health backgrounds (nursing, nutrition and rehabilitation)
participated and were interviewed in an online (20 students) and in a face to
face interview (7 students). After the free-floating reading, data were
analyzed independently by each of the two researchers according to Bardin
(2004). Afterwards the researchers cross-checked the categories in order to
assure the validity of the content analysis. Results: The students express
positive feelings regarding this experience. The exchange of knowledge,
experiences and contributions regarding different health themes is highlighted.
The contact with each other allowed them to perceive that they have different
visions taking into account the same health topics which enabled them to
develop a complementary and integrated vision. Considering the SWOT analysis
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified, regarding the
collaborative team work in the development of innovative health solutions.
Conclusions: This research reveals the importance of implementing
interdisciplinary teaching-learning processes in health professions higher
education.
Higher Education in Health Teaching Methods Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative Learning
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 28, 2018 |
Submission Date | November 3, 2018 |
Published in Issue | Year 2018 |
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