Seeing IPE Through the Student Lens: Perceptions, Challenges, and Opportunities
27 February 2026
St Louis 03.00 / UTC 09.00 / GMT 09.00 / CET 10.00 / GST 13.00
Presenter: Sivapriya Ramakrishnan (University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates)
Moderator: Doreen Herinek (IP.Global, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
Description:
This study explored final-year physiotherapy students’ perspectives on using an interprofessional collaborative model within a UAE university. Nineteen students participated in gender-segregated focus groups following extensive clinical rotations. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, the study found that students valued interprofessional collaboration for enhancing patient outcomes through effective communication, shared decision-making, and clearer role understanding. However, they also reported barriers, including hierarchical structures, limited exposure to interprofessional teams, and communication challenges. Despite these difficulties, students expressed a strong desire for more structured interprofessional education. The findings highlight the need to strengthen interprofessional learning to better prepare graduates for collaborative clinical practice.
Abstract:
This study explored how final-year physiotherapy students perceive the use of an interprofessional collaborative model within a UAE university setting. Nineteen students who had completed extensive clinical rotations participated in gender-segregated focus group discussions, a structure chosen to align with local cultural expectations and to promote open, comfortable dialogue. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework, allowing us to identify patterns in students’ experiences and attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration.
Overall, students recognized that effective interprofessional collaboration plays a vital role in enhancing patient outcomes. They emphasized the critical importance of communication, shared decision-making, and understanding the unique roles of different healthcare professionals. Many participants felt that working collaboratively leads to more holistic, patient-centered care and improves confidence when managing complex clinical cases.
However, students also discussed several challenges that limited their ability to engage in meaningful interprofessional practices during clinical training. These included hierarchical structures within healthcare teams, limited opportunities to interact with other professions, and communication barriers between departments or disciplines. Such constraints often left students unsure of how to initiate or participate in collaborative processes.
Author(s) and contact: Sivapriya Ramakrishnan (rsivapriya@outlook.com) & Jaye McIsa