Rural interprofessional education: promoting teamwork in primary health care education and practice

In a climate of increasing incentives to work effectively within a primary health care team, the ability of various health care professionals to collaborate comes into focus. The principles of effective teamwork can be learned and this learning is most effectively achieved in the field under the supervision of experienced preceptors. It is also enhanced if learners have the opportunity to participate actively in the team and do so from undergraduate level. A 3 year project is underway in Victoria involving rural primary care placements for mixed groups of nursing and medical students. The students are educated in the field by medical and nursing tutors and preceptors who are currently working closely together. The learning objectives include understanding the principles of collaboration, teamwork and various roles in the health care team within a primary health care framework. The present paper describes the context for an evolving interprofessional education project in rural primary care, designed to promote collaboration. It outlines the policy underpinning the project's development. It provides a brief review of the associated evidence base, highlighting barriers to and enablers of interprofessional education. Lessons learnt during the implementation and evaluation of this project will guide efforts to extend the reach of interprofessional education across the primary health care sector.