Meta-Analysis of RCT: Interprofessional education: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes
Presenter: Dr. Matthew Kerry (Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland)
4 June 2024
2:30 pm Zurich time/12:30 UTC/8:30 am ET
Co-sponsored by the Society for Interprofessionalism in Healthcare (IP-Health).
Moderator: Dr. Michael Sy
Description:
Preliminary findings of Cochrane Review Update where a meta-analysis was conducted on k=24 RCTs of IPE/C. Primary findings will be presented.
Abstract:
This update located 16 new RCTs, which were added to the eight RCTs from the last update in 2013. This review now includes 24 RCT studies involving 7,987 healthcare professionals and 75,143 patients. The studies compared IPE with no intervention (IPE vs control) or active control (IPE plus a practice intervention vs practice intervention without IPE). The studies were conducted across secondary care (surgical, medical, critical, obstetric, and stroke care), primary care (rehabilitation clinics, diabetes centres) and community care (nursing homes) in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Rwanda, the Netherlands, UK, and the USA. Data on collaborative provider behaviour and/or patient outcomes from 22 studies were eligible for the meta-analyses.
Based on data from a substantial evidence base of 14 RCTs and 4,696 health professionals, we found a statistically significant moderate effect size (ES) concerning the positive effect of IPE on collaborative provider behaviour [Average difference (SMD): 0.49 higher (95% CI 0.28 to 0.69 higher)]. Based on data from an evidence base of 12 RCTs and 70,820 patients, we found a statistically significant small to moderate ES concerning the positive effect of IPE on patient outcomes [Average difference (SMD): 0.38 higher (95% CI 0.11 to 0.56 higher)].
This updated review reports on 24 RCTs that met the inclusion criteria (16 studies from this update and eight studies from the 2013 update). Based on our meta analyses of data from the available evidence we are able to conclude that IPE improves collaborative provider behaviour and patient outcomes.
Author(s): Matthew Kerry, Andreas Xyrichis, Laure Perrier, Joanne Goldman, Merrick Zwarenstein
Matthew Kerry
Dr. Matthew Kerry holds a PhD in Quantitative Psychology and serves as a Research Associate at Zurich University of Applied Sciences – School of Health Professions. His research pertains to substantive methods within the health sciences. Substantive methods complements useful theory: Optimal design theory, item response measurement theory (IRT), and counterfactual analytics. He uses substantive methods within health sciences: Rooted in his MSc study of interprofessional education (IPE), his research has developed to link patient safety with population wellbeing. His most recent interests pertain to measurement advances (IRT) in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and meta-analyses in IPE.
Author email: kerr@zhaw.ch