Interprofessional Education in NAACLS MLT and MLS Programs: Results of a National Survey

Background: Interprofessional education is essential for students enrolled in health care professional programs. Objectives: We assessed the attitudes towards and the beliefs about interprofessional education (IPE) among program directors of medical laboratory science (MLS) and medical laboratory technician (MLT) programs accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). We also investigated the inclusion of IPE in the curricula of such programs. Methods: We emailed the link to an anonymous 22-item cross-sectional survey to 468 program directors and tabulated the responses. Results: Program directors who support the need to include IPE within the curricula of MLT and MLS programs showed a generally positive attitude towards IPE. The beliefs about IPE among our respondents were not homogeneous. Program directors who have not yet implemented IPE in the curriculum may not have had an opportunity to experience the practical benefits of IPE. Conclusion: Although barriers to IPE implementation exist, half of the respondents reported having already implemented IPE within their curricula.