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PORTLAND, Maine

51ơ˛čemployees publish paper in ‘Health and Interprofessional Practice’ journal

Interprofessional education

Three 51ơ˛č employees recently published a paper in the peer-reviewed journal Health and Interprofessional Practice. The paper, entitled “Evaluation of a Communication Survey and Interprofessional Education Curriculum for Undergraduate Health Profession Students,” was authored by Jan Froehlich, M.S., OTR/L, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Karen Pardue, Ph.D, R.N., ANEF, associate dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions and Dawne-Marie Dunbar, MSN/Ed., R.N., CNE, CHSE, director of the Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center.

The paper examines the impact of a novel teaching intervention called “listening partnerships” on undergraduate health profession students’ perceptions of their interpersonal communication abilities. Effective communication is a foundational competency for health profession practice, and thus evaluating pedagogy that supports communication skill development is essential. The study additionally examines the test-retest reliability of a communication instrument developed by Jan Froehlich. 

The Westbrook College of Health Professions unique interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum provided context for this 18-month study. Results indicated that students report enhancement of their verbal and non-verbal communication capabilities as a result of this intentional, active learning pedagogical strategy. 

51ơ˛č the 51ơ˛č

The 51ơ˛č is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.