Students’ experiences of interprofessional learning by simulating the Swedish concept of coordinated individual care in primary healthcare: a qualitative analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how students in medical programs experience interprofessional learning through simulated care planning in primary healthcare, focusing on patient-centered collaboration.

Contribution

The study introduces the use of CIP meetings as a novel IPL activity and highlights students' development of non-hierarchical collaboration and professional identity.

Findings

Students found CIP meetings to be a relevant IPL activity in clinical training.

The study identified a theme of interprofessional collaboration without hierarchy in a patient-centered setting.

Students gained new insights into their own and others' professional identities through the simulations.

Abstract

The number of students from medical study programs undertaking clinical education and training in primary healthcare is increasing in Sweden. At the same time, the number of patients with complex needs and multimorbidity is also increasing, calling for interprofessional collaboration of care.

The study’s purpose was to describe students’ experiences of interprofessional learning (IPL) from a person-centred perspective in a clinical primary care context using an authentic patient case and simulating a coordinated individual plan (CIP) meeting. The research questions were: (1) Do students perceive the CIP meeting as a relevant IPL activity within clinical training? and (2) What is the novelty of using the CIP meeting with regards to the ICCAS (Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey) - self-assessment scale of IPL competences?

The current study is based on a qualitative evaluation of 12 learning activities carried out over a one-year period. Activities were performed as simulation-based CIP meetings within clinical education, and interprofessional training under supervision. In total, 87 students from 13 different medical programs participated in the activities. Qualitative content analysis was used.

The identified theme was Interprofessional collaborations without hierarchy within a patient-centred setting, and consisted of five categories: (1) patients in center; (2) one’s own professional identity; (3) professional identity of others; (4) teamwork and collaboration; and (5) non-hierarchical positioning.

A novel finding in this study was the students’ experience of creating new knowledge about their own professional identity and non-hierarchical working practices. Additionally, CIP meetings were perceived as a relevant IPL activity in the clinical training of the students.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07563-3.