QU Health students take part in interprofessional education initiative

A total of 148 students and 16 faculty from Qatar University (QU) Health (colleges of Health Sciences, Medicine, and Pharmacy (CPH) ) recently participated in Interprofessional Education (IPE) activity on ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship’.
Organised by QU Health Interprofessional Education Committee (IPEC), the event is aimed to introduce students to the concept of antimicrobial stewardship.
The event’s programme featured discussions focused on the issue of antimicrobial resistance to highlight the ongoing problem of antibiotics no longer being active against certain infections.
The theory and ideal model on an effective antimicrobial stewardship team were then summarised to show to students how different healthcare professionals can work together for a common goal. This concept also got students thinking about teamwork before they were presented with a patient case. The main activity was going through a patient case about a 51-year-old previously healthy male, who was admitted to the emergency department of Hamad General Hospital with fever, chills, shortness of breath and productive cough.
The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia and the students had to follow him during his three-day admission in the hospital by sharing the different healthcare perspective on the case and making a shared decision together.
QU Health IPEC chair and CPH assistant dean, Student Affairs Dr  Alla El-Awaisi said, “We are proud of having another successful academic year for IPE with a total of seven IPE events related to the curricula engaging 831 students and over 100 facilitators and two extra curricula IPE event. “I greatly appreciate the great support and commitment from IPEC members and all the facilitators who were and still instrumental to the programme success and passionate to graduate health care students who are equipped with the skills and professional attitude and worked collaboratively to help advance clinical practice and patient care in the State of Qatar.”
CPH assistant professor and lead facilitator for the event Dr Shane Pawluk said, “The importance of proper antimicrobial use and stewardship IPE event was a collaborative endeavour achieved through the interprofessional work of several different colleges and faculty within QU. Students gained an appreciation from their fellow colleagues that will no doubt have a positive impact on their careers as health care professionals in the future.”
Third-year human nutrition student Shayma al-Bakri said, “This IPE activity was a very beneficial opportunity to work with students from other healthcare professions.
It showed us how our future profession would be and that we need co-operation with each other in order to come up with the best appropriate treatment for patients.”