The effect of COVID-19 patient care and emergency response interprofessional training on COVID-19 knowledge, perception, behavior and readiness for care.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for Interprofessional Education (IPE) and collaborative practices have gained even more importance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of IPE on COVID-19 on students' knowledge, perceptions, behaviors and readiness for care regarding COVID-19. METHODS: The study followed a single-group pre-/post-test semi-experimental research design. The sample consisted of 435 students studying Elderly Care/Home Patient Care/First and Emergency Aid programs. The students' perception of interdisciplinary education was evaluated at the beginning of the study. RESULTS: The students were given an online COVID-19 Patient Care and Emergency Response IPE that lasted five hours and was split into two parts. The perception of interdisciplinary education was significantly higher among female students and first and emergency students before receiving IPE. Before and after IPE, the knowledge level scores of the students who did not receive IPE were found to be higher than those who did. After the training, the students' knowledge levels, readiness for care and their perceptions of control towards the COVID-19 pandemic increased statistically significantly (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The students' knowledge levels and perceptions of control surrounding the pandemic may grow as a result of the IPE given about COVID-19 during the pandemic, when IPE became more important, and students may feel more prepared to care.