ABSTRACT
Over the past 30 years interprofessional education (IPE) has gradually gained credibility as a way to increase and sustain collaborative practice between health and social care professionals. It is acknowledged that IPE is challenging, but with careful planning and the appropriate use of teaching and learning approaches, it is possible. This chapter describes working definitions of IPE, interprofessional learning (IPL) and multiprofessional education. It explains the need to improve IPE teaching, aspects of the learning process for IPE, and aspects of teaching IPE. Well-organised and well-taught IPE programmes have to be put in place to prepare professionals for collaborative practice, both in college and in the workplace. The challenge for the PIPE team was to explore and find evidence about the kinds of teaching skills and methods used to promote IPE in the classroom and practical settings. A particular aim was to be able to provide evidence of the knowledge and skills needed by those preparing teachers for IPE.
