A guest speaker-based healthcare workforce preparation course enhances interprofessional education

Purpose To examine the effects of an undergraduate guest-speaker-based healthcare workforce preparation course on students’ understanding of interprofessional education (IPE). Methodology Twenty invited guest speakers from varied healthcare backgrounds came to share their work experiences and perspectives with the class. Qualitative data from weekly reflections and a final reflection paper completed by the students were extracted and analysed. Findings Qualitative themes suggested increased understanding of changes in career path trajectories and the value of public health in prevention and health preservation. Research Implications This pilot project offers insights that may guide future research in conducting a guest-speaker-based course that may enhance student understanding of teamwork and collaboration. Caution must be applied to the interpretation of results in this pilot study as there was a very limited number of participants. Practical Implications Healthcare guest speakers provided a unique educational opportunity for students, increasing their understanding of IPE and career path versatility. Originality To our knowledge, no previous literature exists relating to the possible effect of a guest-speaker-based healthcare workforce-preparation course on student understanding of IPE. Limitations This study had a very small sample size, and larger studies are needed to assess more meaningful change.