An evaluation of practice-based interprofessional education initiatives involving service users

There is little evidence in the literature regarding the impact of service-user focused interprofessional education in the practice setting. This article reports evaluative case studies of two practice-based interprofessional initiatives, in which service users played a central role. These initiatives formed part of the Trent Universities Interprofessional Learning in Practice (TUILIP) project (http://tuilip.hwb.shu.ac.uk), a collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Nottingham. Practice settings were an acute mental health service and a community organisation offering care and services to adults with learning disabilities. Interprofessional initiatives were developed by facilitators, and an evaluation conducted at each site. Facilitators, managers, practitioners, students and service users took part in interviews and focus groups to discuss their perceptions of the initiative in their practice setting. The evaluation reveals participants' perceptions of the projects' aims, process and outcomes. It also demonstrates the factors which facilitated success or proved challenging. The evaluation reveals the perceived impact upon individuals, clinical practice and the organisations involved.