Informal interprofessional education on placement: the views and experiences of postgraduate (preregistration) occupational therapy students

While the College of Occupational Therapists (2013) supports interprofessional education (IPE) at the pre-registration level, a review of existing literature has indicated a variety of barriers to achieving this, particularly for post-graduate level Occupational Therapy students (Pollard et al., 2004; Howell, 2009). While IPE is addressed informally by many students on placement, little is known about this phenomenon (Pollard, 2009). Therefore, the research question seeks to discover the views and experiences of postgraduate (pre-registration) Occupational Therapy students towards informal IPE on practice placement. The research aims to: • discover how IPE may occur on student placements • determine the value students place upon IPE • identify any barriers to effective IPE for students on placement, and how these are negotiated. The research question shall be addressed using a convenience sample of 4–6 MSc (pre-registration) Occupational Therapy students. Research participants shall be asked to complete a short questionnaire, followed by a focus group surveying their views and experiences of IPE on placement. Data shall be analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach, capitalising upon the researcher’s recent practice placement experience (Shaw, 2010). The completed research article is due to be completed by 8 May 2017. It is anticipated that research findings will inform occupational therapy educators and practice placement providers when arranging and evaluating student practice placements.