The impact of European interprofessional education programmes on long term health outcomes : systematic review

Abstract

Background and Objective: Safe and effective delivery of care to the geriatric population necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. Interprofessional education (IPE) has been highly promoted as a means of enhancing interprofessional practice and thereby having a positive impact on healthcare systems and patient outcomes. Various documents mention that sufficient evidence has been accumulated to demonstrate the effectiveness of IPE, yet it is not completely clear what type of evidence is being alluded to. Although general educational principles of IPE may be applicable to geriatric medicine, further research is still required. The objective of this review was to gather evidence about IPE programs that resulted in effective long-term outcomes in healthcare and patient outcomes. Secondary outcomes included identification of the types of models that met the success criteria.