PERSPECTIVES
Steffens Scleroderma Foundation Interprofessional Education Event David Leader, D.M.D., M.P.H.; Daniela Bittar, D.D.S.; Evamarie Cole
ABSTRACT
Interprofessional education (IPE) improves knowledge, skills and attitudes for collaborative care for participating health professions students.[1] Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that affects all organ systems, which makes it an ideal subject for IPE. In April 2023, 196 students from 9 health professions programs at 4 schools attended the Steffens Scleroderma Foundation IPE program. In this patient-led program, students learned with and from each other how different professions help patients live with scleroderma. Increased self-efficacy of professional students results in more comprehensive care and improved access to care for patients living with scleroderma.[1,2] The World Health Organization defines interprofessional education (IPE) as “When students and/or professionals from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration to improve health outcomes.”[3] We anticipate that students who participate in IPE programs will enter the healthcare workplace ready to participate with other professions to treat patients more efficiently and effectively. The wide range of effects of the autoimmune disease scleroderma on multiple organ systems, activities of daily living and quality of life make the disease an ideal subject for IPE experiences. 12
NOVEMBER 2023 . The New York State Dental Journal
The Steffens Scleroderma Foundation of Albany, NY, promotes awareness, research, education and collaboration for scleroderma, Degos disease and related disorders. Steffens hosts an annual IPE experience, in which breakout groups of students of different professions, led by individuals who have scleroderma, learn about the disease and the patient’s experience. During the program, students also learn about the perspectives and capabilities of the other professions represented. Research demonstrates that knowledge of scleroderma improves access to care by raising the self-efficacy of providers, specifically, dentists.[4] The 2023 program included students from nine different health professions, including nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and either nursing/nurse practitioner, medicine, public health, pharmacy and dentistry. IPE is a requirement of the accreditation standards of all healthcare professions. For example, the Council on Dental School Accreditation, CODA, Accreditation Standards for Dental Education Programs includes standard 2-20, “Graduates must be competent in communicating and collaborating with other members of the healthcare team to facilitate the provision of health care.”[5] Scleroderma and Oral Health Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, fibrosis and vasculopathy. There are two main types: localized and systemic. Localized scleroderma does not develop into systemic, but patients may have both. This is a rare disease that affects about 1 in 10,000 people worldwide.[6]
