An interprofessional learning opportunity for multidisciplinary health students and staff: Piloting a chronic pain management group program within the northern campus

Inter-professional learning (IPL) is vital for developing work ready graduates of health disciplines and enhancing outcomes of patients living with chronic conditions, however the full potential of IPL has yet to be realised within curriculum. The aims of this project were to improve the understanding of ways to incorporate IPL into tertiary curricula and assess the suitability of IPL activities; create greater student awareness of multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of a clinical condition such as chronic pain; improve student workplace readiness; build the capacity of academic staff to facilitate IPL; and, contribute to sustaining the growth and development of IPL across the Faculty.

A three-stage process was employed involving staff and student workshops on IPL and chronic pain and an Interprofessional, student led chronic pain group program involving community participants recruited from the Newnham Exercise Physiology (EP) Clinic. All stages of the project were evaluated and used a pre and post, mixed methods design. Outcomes show increases in confidence, knowledge and understanding of IPL and multidisciplinary chronic pain management related to all project activities. Perspectives of community participants also showed high levels of acceptability and benefit from the chronic pain program. Several challenges were highlighted including difficulties coordinating IPL activities across discipline timetables and the need for ongoing dedicated resourcing for personnel to coordinate IPL. The project team is currently drafting two publications and considering how to potentially incorporate the pain program into the EP clinic timetable.