This Lightning Talk addresses the theme and subtheme of Interprofessional(IP) Education and Assessment through the presentation of the direct observation method, a powerful assessment technique for determining team skills performance. Direct observation has been extensively used in healthcare training to assess individual student procedural skills and more recently interpersonal communication. Patient-centered, collaborative care demands that all health professionals exhibit strong interprofessional communication and working relationships to optimize patient safety and health outcomes. Interprofessional student teams can learn, practice, and enhance team skills during health care training in simulated and clinical settings, but need objective, accurate feedback and assessment of their skills in order to adjust their performance and grow from the experience. Direct observation of IP teams can capture performance traits related to personal, interpersonal, skill-based and site-based issues. It can provide formative and summative assessment to foster and document both individual and team skills. Direct observation significantly extends self-report methods which typically capture student perspectives on their IP experiences. Moreover, direct observation methods can be used by the student learners in other assessment activities.
This talk will introduce attendees to applications of direct observation, but it is not a systematic or comprehensive review. Searching both the NEXUS Resource Center and Medline, we identified direct observation frameworks, instruments, and rating scales in health settings and tips to foster the incorporation of direct observation into IP assessment. The presentation will describe strengths and challenges of direct observation for IP student teams, individual behaviors and observer training, with an emphasis on observation with an interprofessional lens. The talk will provide an overview of practical examples including our own experience in the development and application of DOTI, the Direct Observation of Team Interactions instrument for IP teams. The information provided will assist attendees to more confidently appraise and select direct observation methods.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
