Dedicated Interprofessional Training Units (ITUs) in hospital wards are one way to prepare healthcare students for Interprofessional patient-centered care. Based on theoretical foundations, research, and our lived experiences of successes as well as failures, we propose 12 tips on how to prepare, implement, and sustain a dedicated ITU, combining the Grol & Wensing model for planning change with the Self-determination Theory of motivation. Start with a steering group, with a dedicated project leader, to translate awareness of the need for an ITU into wider awareness and motivation among stakeholders, with the ITU being a solution to authentic problems. Create shared ownership by jointly formulating feasible educational goals and starting with a pilot to provide opportunities for change. Motivate all stakeholders by stimulating their autonomy, interprofessional competence as well as relatedness to each other, in line with the Self-determination Theory. Confirm the value of the ITU at all stages and embed the ITU in the organizational strategy.
Keywords: Interprofessional education; change model; design; implementation; interprofessional training unit; self-determination theory; sustenance.