STUDENTS INVOLVEMENT IN INTERDISCIPLINARY DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE HEALTH SOLUTIONS: A SWOT ANALYSIS

Elsa Marta Soares¹*, Ana Querido², Cidália Pereira³, Maria dos Anjos Dixe^4
1PhD, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, PORTUGAL, elsa.soares@ipleiria.pt
²PhD, MsC, RN, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, PORTUGAL, Centre for Research in Health Technologies and Information Systems (CINTESIS), University of Porto, PORTUGAL
³PhD, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, PORTUGAL,
⁴PhD, MsC, RN, Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, PORTUGAL
*Corresponding author

Abstract

Background: Interdisciplinary research has the potential to optimize communication, accelerate discoveries and their translation into practice. Interdisciplinary collaboration is useful in bringing together professionals from different disciplines in order to share new ideas, express different perspectives and create new solutions that emerge from interdisciplinary collaboration and catalyse scientific innovations (VanWormer, Lindquist, Robiner, & Finkelstein, 2012). Little is known about student’s involvement in interdisciplinary practice-based research specially concerning their perception about their participation in this kind of research process. This paper is part of a larger interdisciplinary practice-based research project named Help2Care. Help2Care involves students, teachers and stakeholders aiming to empower the informal caregiver and the dependent person by integrating multimedia resources and technology in healthcare.  Students were involved in the development of resources that optimize care among caregivers, dependent person and health care professionals, integrating networks of formal and informal care. Objectives: the main objective is to analyze the experience of students involved in an interdisciplinary team, collaborating in the design of multimedia resources that impact the quality of life of informal caregivers of the dependent person. Methods: This is a qualitative study, using thematic content analysis. Ethical issues were taken into account according to Helsinki declaration. Students from different health backgrounds (nursing, nutrition and rehabilitation) participated and were interviewed in an online (20 students) and in a face to face interview (7 students). After the free-floating reading, data were analyzed independently by each of the two researchers according to Bardin (2004). Afterwards the researchers cross-checked the categories in order to assure the validity of the content analysis. Results: The students express positive feelings regarding this experience. The exchange of knowledge, experiences and contributions regarding different health themes is highlighted. The contact with each other allowed them to perceive that they have different visions taking into account the same health topics which enabled them to develop a complementary and integrated vision. Considering the SWOT analysis strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified, regarding the collaborative team work in the development of innovative health solutions. Conclusions: This research reveals the importance of implementing interdisciplinary teaching-learning processes in health professions higher education.

Keywords: Higher Education in Health, Teaching Methods, Interdisciplinary Research, Collaborative Learning.