Self-Efficacy for Interprofessional Experiential Learning Through an International Service Trip: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Abstract

This pilot mixed-methods educational study examines the impact of interprofessional experiential learning on self-efficacy during a service trip to Guatemala. Participants were recruited from occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech pathology programs at a university. They engaged in a 9-day international interprofessional learning service trip. They completed pre- and post-surveys with open-ended questions to measure and reflect on the impact of their service trip on self-efficacy. Nine of 14 traveling students completed both pre- and post-trip surveys. Confidence in both interprofessional interaction and team evaluation showed statistically significant changes in the self-efficacy of interprofessional experiential learning in pre- and post-trip surveys. The service trip, involving therapy students, positively impacted their self-efficacy through participating in interprofessional experiential learning. Analysis of open-ended responses revealed the students' self-efficacy was significantly influenced by the collaboration between their peers in other professions. The study highlights the value of future interprofessional service trips.