Creating a Film to Teach Health Professions Students the Importance of Interprofessional Collaboration

Am J Pharm Educ. 2020 Apr;84(4):7638. doi: 10.5688/ajpe7638.

Abstract

Objective. To produce, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a film to develop the foundational knowledge and skills of health professions students and teach them the importance of interprofessional collaboration. Methods. An existing interprofessional case study about a Hispanic man suffering from multiple chronic health conditions and the impact his health had on his family served as the basis for the film. To ensure a high-quality production, faculty members partnered with a local theatre company to produce the film. Upon completion, the film was integrated into an annual interprofessional forum and evaluated by both students and faculty members in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Results. The 22-minute film, entitled Meet Fred Santiago: Improving Care Through Interprofessional Collaboration, was shown to 1921 students and 250 faculty members who participated in the interprofessional forum over the three years. Of these, 1858 students and 174 faculty members completed a program evaluation following the forum. The majority (>86%) of student and faculty respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the film presented a realistic view of the challenges faced by people with multiple chronic health problems. The majority of students (>85%) agreed or strongly agreed that the film helped them appreciate the breadth of issues confronting individuals with multiple chronic health problems. Conclusion. The film, Meet Fred Santiago, is an effective tool for introducing health professions students to the complex interrelationship of medical, psychological, and social issues experienced by individuals with chronic health conditions.

Keywords: health occupations; interprofessional relations; motion pictures.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Caregivers
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Cost of Illness
  • Drama
  • Education, Professional*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Motion Pictures*
  • Multiple Chronic Conditions / psychology
  • Multiple Chronic Conditions / therapy
  • Students, Health Occupations / psychology*
  • Teaching*