Interprofessional Education Through a Monthly Stroke Support Group.

AIMS: Interprofessional education (IPE) is an accreditation requirement in many health professional programs. A semester-long community-based stroke support group was designed with participation from faculty and health professional students in the occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, and therapeutic recreation programs. Objectives centered on measuring student perception of stroke and interprofessional collaboration. METHODS: A mixed-methodology using a concurrent triangulation design included a faculty developed pretest-posttest survey and focus group. The Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education Revised (SPICE-R2) was given in the final two semesters. RESULTS: 45 students were involved in the program from 2016 to 2019. Findings were significant for all items on the pretest- posttest survey indicating students improved on their perception of stroke, the roles of other professions, and the value of interprofessional teamwork and team-based practice. Thematic analysis revealed that students identified the differences in stroke impact among participants and the importance of using a team approach in meeting participants' goals. CONCLUSION: Faculty and student participation in IPE delivery models coupled with perceived community benefit may positively impact program sustainability and improve student perceptions of interprofessional collaboration.

Miller Fisher syndrome and Guillain-Barré syndrome: dual intervention rehabilitation of a complex patient case.

Purpose: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) presents with acute peripheral neuropathy leading to ascending motor and sensory deficits. Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), a GBS variant, is characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia. In unusual cases, MFS and GBS overlap. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the effects of an aquatic and land-based physiotherapy (PT) intervention on a patient with MFS-GBS.Case Description: A 57-year-old male physician was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome following a quadriceps muscle tear. Within 1 month, the patient experienced evolving motor, sensory, autonomic, and cranial nerve dysfunction and was diagnosed with MFS-GBS.Interventions: Five months post-onset, a 7-week intensive PT program was initiated including aquatic and land-based interventions.Outcomes: Following completion, functional improvements were demonstrated on the 6 Minute Walk Test, Timed-Up-and-Go, 10 Meter Walk Test and Short Form-36. However, 6 weeks after program completion, the patient had a recurrence.Conclusion: PT intervention demonstrated improvement in functional outcomes for a patient with a diagnosis of MFS-GBS. Complex patients lacking recovery within 6 months may benefit from continued rehabilitation. Other intervention approaches may need to be considered, including aquatic therapy.