Interprofessional education (IPE) for respiratory care in neuromuscular disease (NMD) is feasible, and improves confidence in clinical practice

Background: IPE “occurs when two or more professionals learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and quality of care.” (Barr H et al. Introducing interprofessional education; 2013). As patients’ needs become more complex, collaboration across professional and physical boundaries becomes more vital. Individuals with NMD including myotubular myopathy (MM) have complex cormorbidities, and positive outcomes require coordinated care from hospital to home. Objectives: We designed a one day training programme for respiratory care in MM, to explore whether IPE is feasible and improves confidence in clinical practice in this area. Methods: The training programme included didactic sessions, workshops and networking opportunities. Participants completed pre- and post-course Likert scale assessments of confidence in respiratory care in MM and gave qualitative feedback. Results: N=22: 5 relatives; 1 patient; 4 physicians; 7 nurses; 4 physiotherapists; 1 physiologist. Participants9 confidence in most domains improved significantly. Participants commented on the value of networking and information sharing. Conclusions: IPE offers a promising approach to training in respiratory care in NMD. Further work is required to determine whether IPE improves collaboration and clinical outcomes.