What is INVOLVE?
INVOLVE is an interprofessional education (IPE) initiative for pre-registration health sciences and social care students. It is offered by the University of Otago, Wellington.
INVOLVE provides an opportunity for students from a variety of disciplines to learn interprofessional values through meeting people with long-term conditions.
The initiative includes around 12 hours of teaching and learning undertaken over a four-to-five week period within the students’ regular programme. Students take part in an introductory workshop with a focus on interprofessional collaboration in relation to people with long-term conditions. Then, in small interprofessional groups, they undertake home visits to patients and deliver small group presentations to the INVOLVE class and invited guests.
Students learn about interprofessional communication and co-ordination, teamwork, role clarification, team functioning, shared decision-making and conflict negotiation.
Who are the students?
Students come from the following pre-registration programmes:
- Clinical Psychology
- Dietetics
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Paramedicine
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Social Work
- Speech Language Therapy
Who are the facilitators?
The facilitators are members of the Wellington Interprofessional Teaching Initiative (WITI).
They come from:
- University of Otago, Wellington
- Capital and Coast District Health Board
- Mary Potter Hospice
- Massey University
- Victoria University
- Whitireia New Zealand
What do students say?
"It was a great opportunity to work alongside students from other health sciences, and I really noticed the different skills and strengths people brought to the group. I also really valued visiting a patient in the community to see for myself how people’s day-to-day lives are impacted by their health conditions."
Nadia Kahan, Radiation Therapy student
"Our team worked together really well. There were many times that we were able to discuss each other’s courses and roles in the hospital, which we all found very interesting and helped us to collaborate during the project."
Phoebe van Boheemen, Medical student
"I had a positive and engaging interaction with my group members. Communication with each other was always respectful, timely and efficient. This effective teamwork allowed for a fair distribution of work load, and an equal contribution and engagement in our patient interviews."
Ryan Corke, Paramedic student
"Working with students from different medical fields gave me a better understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities. I’m sure that it will make collaborative practice easier which ultimately enhances the quality of care that we provide."
Oscar Wong, Physiotherapy student
What do teachers say about INVOLVE?
"INVOLVE provides a great arena for our clinical psychology students to learn about working with other health professionals and to reflect on their similarities and differences with other groups."
Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Victoria University
"For medical students, INVOLVE is a great introduction to working in an interprofessional team rather than as individual practitioners. It builds their understanding and appreciation of the skills and perspectives of other health and social care professionals."
Ben Gray, General Practitioner, University of Otago, Wellington
"INVOLVE offers paramedic students the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other healthcare professionals with the added benefit of focusing on patient-centred care."
Belinda Westenra, Paramedic, Whitireia New Zealand
Ngā mihi nui
We are grateful to the Wellington General Practices who support the INVOLVE initiative by recruiting people with long-term conditions. We thank the people who share their experiences of what it is like to live with long-term conditions and those who support them to live well.
Find out more
If you are an organisation who wants to know more about IPE or the INVOLVE initiative, please contact:
Professor Eileen McKinlay
University of Otago, Wellington
Email eileen.mckinlay@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 4 918 5090
If you are a student who would like to participate in the INVOLVE programme, please contact your course director.