Interprofessional education clinical placement program: a qualitative case study approach

The goal of health professional education programs is to produce competent graduates, with an ability to work collaboratively as effective healthcare team members. We explored the reflections of students and clinical facilitators, in response to participation in a structured interprofessional education (IPE) clinical placement program. In our qualitative study we used an exploratory case study design. In our analysis, we highlight the benefits of interprofessional practice. Key themes identified by students included: limited opportunities to engage in IPE across their course; lack of clarity around IPE; value of IPE for students, practitioners, and patient outcomes; and need for IPE opportunities to be integrated into placements. Key themes identified by the clinical facilitators included: being reminded of the value of IPE for students and patients; preparation for IPE placements need to be embedded in curricula; coordination and communication of IPE learning activities need to be clear for staff and students; and IPE should continue as part of the broader clinical education agenda. Our findings reinforce the notion that students and clinical facilitators value the importance of IPE for student learning within the clinical placement setting. The outcomes offer valuable insights for universities and hospital and health care contexts for setting up and implementing IPE activities, and we provide recommendations for improving ongoing IPE efforts within clinical placement setting.

The effects of +Gz force on the bone mineral density of fighter pilots

HYPOTHESIS

Bone is a metabolically active tissue which responds to high strain loading. The purpose of this study was to examine the bone response to high +Gz force loading generated during high performance flying.

METHODS

The bone response to +Gz force loading was monitored in 10 high performance RAAF pilots and 10 gender-, age-, height-, weight-matched control subjects. The pilots were stationed at the RAAF base at Pearce, Western Australia, all completing the 1-yr flight training course. The pilots flew the Pilatus PC-9 aircraft, routinely sustaining between 2.0 and 6.0 +Gz. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured at baseline and 12 mo, using the Hologic QDR 2000+ bone densitometer.

RESULTS

After controlling for change in total body weight and fat mass, the pilots experienced a significant increase in BMD and BMC for thoracic spine, pelvis, and total body, in the magnitude of 11.0%, 4.9%, and 3.7%, respectively. However, no significant changes in bone mineral were observed in the pilots lumbar spine, arms or legs. The control group experienced a significant decrease in pelvic BMC, with no other bone mineral changes observed at any site.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that site specific BMD is increased in response to high +Gz forces generated during high performance flying in a PC-9.