Online Collaboration by Interprofessional Student Teams completing a Mixed-Mode Case Study

Abstract

This paper reports findings from a study of online collaboration by interprofessional teams of health care students. 700 students from six disciplines collaborated both face-to-face and online to complete a case study as part of the University of Toronto Interfaculty Pain Curriculum 2004. Based on survey responses, two sets of student teams were selected for detailed analysis. Five of these teams were "positive": these respondents (n=27, 66%) agreed that collaborating online enhanced their appreciation of other health care professions. These were compared to four "negative" teams whose respondents (n=17, 53%) were negative or neutral about the value of computer-mediated communication in this context. Examining the differences between the survey responses of these students and the participation patterns online of their teams sheds light on the design and facilitation required if online collaboration is to be a valued component of interprofessional education.