The complex care required to address the needs of head and neck cancer patients requires interprofessional collaboration. Using the compelling narrative of a patient's journey through cancer treatment in the Canadian setting, the aim of this study was to engage health professions students to discover the importance of interprofessional care for complex patients, while delivering content on head and neck cancer care and providing training/experience in interprofessional education (IPE) facilitation to clinicians. In the study, 38 students from nine health disciplines participated in a three-hour workshop that included interactive presentations and facilitated small- and large-group activities. The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) was administered pre and post workshop to examine changes in students' attitudes and perceptions about IPE. Qualitative participant and facilitator feedback regarding the session was obtained using a structured questionnaire and debriefing sessions with each group. An overall improvement of scores on the IEPS was observed, while analyses of individual items showed improved scores on all items but one. Session feedback from students and facilitators was positive. The results suggest that combining case-based methods with interprofessional learning in the clinical setting allowed students to develop an appreciation for the complex needs of head and neck cancer patients and the need for collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: collaboration; facilitation; faculty development; head and neck cancer; interprofessional education; patient-centered care.