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Experiences of interprofessional learning among students in primary healthcare settings : A scoping review

Sääf, Maria ; Elmqvist, Carina ; Pålsson, Birger LU and Holst, Hanna (2025) In BMJ Open 15(3).
Abstract

Objective Previous research on interprofessional learning in primary healthcare has been focused on students' learning in the encounter with the patient. However, the research is limited, and a review of the experiences of patients, students, and supervisors of interprofessional learning in primary healthcare is lacking. The focus of this scoping review is to describe the current knowledge and also to identify knowledge gaps. Design A scoping review in which blocks of keywords and synonyms were used for achieving a high level of subject precision together with a qualitative thematic analysis for the presentation of the results. Data sources Publications from 2012 to 2024 were searched for in the PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC databases.... (More)

Objective Previous research on interprofessional learning in primary healthcare has been focused on students' learning in the encounter with the patient. However, the research is limited, and a review of the experiences of patients, students, and supervisors of interprofessional learning in primary healthcare is lacking. The focus of this scoping review is to describe the current knowledge and also to identify knowledge gaps. Design A scoping review in which blocks of keywords and synonyms were used for achieving a high level of subject precision together with a qualitative thematic analysis for the presentation of the results. Data sources Publications from 2012 to 2024 were searched for in the PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC databases. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Peer-reviewed studies with a qualitative design describing the experiences of patients, students and supervisors of interprofessional learning in primary healthcare were included. Data extraction and synthesis The articles were retrieved, stored and reviewed in a shared online folder. All the authors participated in the scoping review. The decisions on inclusion/exclusion were made after a systematic, multidisciplinary team approach, which involved all the authors in the discussions to reach a consensus. Results The results showed that interprofessional learning helped the students to focus on the patient and that the students broadened their perspectives when working together. The results showed that supervisors planned for interprofessional learning by setting aside time for the students to get to know each other. The supervisors confirmed that interprofessional learning contributed to the primary healthcare employees remaining abreast with high professional standards, with updated knowledge, more resources and the implementation of several organisational changes. Conclusions Interprofessional learning contributed to a patient-centred approach that provided new insights and expanded knowledge for students in professional training. More research is needed to understand how interprofessional learning between different professions can be developed.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Education, Medical, Interprofessional Relations, Medicine, Nursing research, Primary Health Care
in
BMJ Open
volume
15
issue
3
article number
e094572
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:105001186530
  • pmid:40118492
ISSN
2044-6055
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094572
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
aa63418b-fed9-4587-9d74-33112c75935b
date added to LUP
2025-08-19 13:55:19
date last changed
2025-08-20 04:02:35
@article{aa63418b-fed9-4587-9d74-33112c75935b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective Previous research on interprofessional learning in primary healthcare has been focused on students' learning in the encounter with the patient. However, the research is limited, and a review of the experiences of patients, students, and supervisors of interprofessional learning in primary healthcare is lacking. The focus of this scoping review is to describe the current knowledge and also to identify knowledge gaps. Design A scoping review in which blocks of keywords and synonyms were used for achieving a high level of subject precision together with a qualitative thematic analysis for the presentation of the results. Data sources Publications from 2012 to 2024 were searched for in the PubMed, CINAHL and ERIC databases. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Peer-reviewed studies with a qualitative design describing the experiences of patients, students and supervisors of interprofessional learning in primary healthcare were included. Data extraction and synthesis The articles were retrieved, stored and reviewed in a shared online folder. All the authors participated in the scoping review. The decisions on inclusion/exclusion were made after a systematic, multidisciplinary team approach, which involved all the authors in the discussions to reach a consensus. Results The results showed that interprofessional learning helped the students to focus on the patient and that the students broadened their perspectives when working together. The results showed that supervisors planned for interprofessional learning by setting aside time for the students to get to know each other. The supervisors confirmed that interprofessional learning contributed to the primary healthcare employees remaining abreast with high professional standards, with updated knowledge, more resources and the implementation of several organisational changes. Conclusions Interprofessional learning contributed to a patient-centred approach that provided new insights and expanded knowledge for students in professional training. More research is needed to understand how interprofessional learning between different professions can be developed.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sääf, Maria and Elmqvist, Carina and Pålsson, Birger and Holst, Hanna}},
  issn         = {{2044-6055}},
  keywords     = {{Education, Medical; Interprofessional Relations; Medicine; Nursing research; Primary Health Care}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open}},
  title        = {{Experiences of interprofessional learning among students in primary healthcare settings : A scoping review}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094572}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjopen-2024-094572}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}