Exploring interprofessional roles and responsibilities of physical therapists and radiation therapists during the care of patients with breast cancer using IPE

Abstract

In the United States the most common female malignancy is breast cancer.1, 2 Standard of care for women with breast cancer will lead them to radiation therapists and physical therapists for treatment.³ The need for these professions to understand each other's roles and responsibilities (RR) is important to provide collaborative quality care to the patient.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Using interprofessional education (IPE) involving case studies that treat patients with breast cancer can create a direct discussion on each other's RR.4, 5 A face to face classroom setting was implemented to conduct this IPE. Physical therapy (n = 59) and radiation therapy (n = 10) students completed a pre-IPE survey before meeting for the 1 h IPE session. After the IPE session, a post-IPE survey was completed. The objective for this IPE was to allow for greater understanding of each other's RR. Comparing the pre-IPE and post-IPE survey using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test demonstrated that both physical therapy students and radiation therapy students achieved a better understanding of each other's RR.