Health care students' perceptions about learning of affective interpersonal communication competence in interprofessional simulations

Background: Health professionals need interpersonal communication competence (ICC) in their work with patients and other professionals. Interprofessional simulation provides health care students with an opportunity to practice communication skills in a safe and authentic environment. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of health care students of interprofessional simulations in acquiring affective interpersonal communication competence (AICC). Design: This study was conducted using the quantitative descriptive research method. Settings: The data were collected from health care students participating in interprofessional simulations at a university of applied sciences in Finland using a questionnaire titled Student questionnaire on a multiprofessional simulation exercise. The health care students included nursing, physical therapy and practical nursing students. Participants: This study was participated by 149 health care students with a response rate of 41.2%. Methods: The quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS 24.0 for Windows statistical software. Frequencies, percentages, averages, and standard deviation were used to describe the data. Two mean sum variables were formed using factor analysis from the variables describing AICC. Results: The students' perceptions of learning AICC (attitude, motivation, emotions) in interprofessional simulations were largely positive; for example, the simulations reduced prejudice against, and increased appreciation of, other occupational groups. Even though the interprofessional simulations were sometimes perceived as stressful, stress could also be a positive source of learning and effectively fostered personal understanding of others in a team. Conclusion: Interprofessional simulations increased knowledge of the activities of other professional groups for students in different fields of education. This encourages them to work together after completing their education and entering the workforce. Knowledge of the simulation process and the creating a safe learning environment also promoted students' AICC.