What, why and how?
The IPE cancer and life-limiting illness care activity is a workplace-based initiative occurring over 8 days. It is hosted by Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua Midcentral, at Palmerston North Hospital. Participating students are on clinical placement at the hospital at the same time, and are drawn from a range of health and social care professional programmes at the University of Otago, Massey University and other partner institutions.
Students attend an introductory whole-group IPE session. Here they are prepared about the context of cancer and life-limiting illness, taking part in a facilitated case study and learning how to talk to patients who find themselves in this situation.
In small interprofessional groups, students then interview a patient. The group reflects on the patient's experience and how an interprofessional team can provide support.
Finally, students present their group discussions to their peers. Through this exercise, advanced students have the opportunity to demonstrate interprofessional communication, as well as to reflect on and experience the importance of collaborative care from the patient's perspective.
Who are the students?
- Dietetics Masters Year 2
- Medicine Year 6 (Trainee Interns)
- Nursing Year 3
- Physiotherapy Year 4
- Radiation Therapy Year 3
- Social Work Year 4
Who are the facilitators?
- Academic staff from participating programmes of the University of Otago, Massey University and other partner institutions
- Radiation Therapy staff from Te Whatu Ora
What do students say?
- "What surprised me most was how engaged everyone was and that everyone felt equal"
- "I [learned] confidence. People actually do want to know what [my profession] thinks"
- "Highlighted [for me] how important it is for us healthcare professionals to communicate"
Find out more
Visit the Interprofessional Education page
Email hs.ipe@otago.ac.nz