Abstract

Background: Interprofessional education contributes to the progression of interprofessional practice (IPP), which plays a crucial role in providing adequate care to patients. There is a lack of knowledge about the dimensions of IPP and its influence on future professional practice. This study evaluated the perceptions of medical students from various academic levels toward IPP and their ability to integrate with interdisciplinary teamwork.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of a 14-item tool on the Attitudes Toward Healthcare Teamwork Scale was utilized to measure patient's care quality. This study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Saudia Arabia.
Results: A total sample size of 540 medical students was included with a total mean attitude score of 60.50 ± 5.07. Females (n = 347, 64.30%) were more than males (n = 193, 35.70%). The mean attitude score was significantly higher among male medical students with p = 0.009. Moreover, the male students in their advanced clinical years had a more positive attitude toward IPP than female peers with p = 0.018. The educational level was not statistically significant (p = 0.833).
Conclusion: Most of the students had a good knowledge of interprofessional team working and acknowledged that IPP promotes optimal patient care. More broadly, researches are needed to include all disciplines and cover other regions in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Key words: Medical students, interprofessional practice, Saudi Arabia, survey