Effective communication with patients and other health professionals is paramount. Unfortunately, today’s students remain under-trained in health literacy communication. The importance of health literacy, combined with increasing accreditation expectations for interprofessional communication, affords a rich opportunity for interprofessional education (IPE). As a critical skill, health literacy IPE also provides an opportunity to assess advanced learning outcomes.We developed an interprofessional Objective Structured Clinical Examination (iOSCE) using standardized patients (SPs) and piloted it with students from three different educational programs: medicine (MD), dental hygiene (DH), and occupational therapy (OT). The iOSCE focused on skill development of the top three health literacy practices: teach-back, avoiding use of medical jargon, and using a patient-centered approach for questions. Students were trained in these techniques, as well as TeamSTEPPS concepts, then placed in interprofessional teams to complete the iOSCE. Outcomes were assessed quantitatively using a 6-item Likert scale health literacy survey on conviction and confidence, the Performance Assessment of Communication and Teamwork (PACT) tool, the Team Observed Structural Clinical Encounter (TOSCE) tool and an SP observation checklist. Qualitative data was captured during a post-iOSCE debrief.58 students participated in our pilot; 16 4th-year MD, 22 2nd-year DH, and 19 2nd-year OT. Statistically significant improvement for all health literacy questions concerning confidence was observed (p < 0.05), as well as PACT items related to understanding of interprofessional teamwork (p < 0.001). Data from SP observation checklists revealed no significant differences between professions regarding health literacy skills, demonstrating uniform skill acquisition. Emergent themes from the post-iOSCE debrief included an appreciation of learning about other professions’ roles and resources and the desire to apply more discipline-specific teaching within the team-based care. This presentation will provide a detailed description of the development, implementation, and evaluation of our health literacy iOSCE, including lessons learned, to encourage and support replication at other institutions.
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
