A study protocol for interprofessional collaborative, digital, and sustainability training in primary healthcare: the REALISE study

Background:
Primary healthcare units (PHCUs) in Austria play a crucial role in providing regionally tailored, high-quality care through interprofessional teams. Barriers, such as limited training and unclear roles, hinder effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC). Additionally, healthcare and social professionals (HCSPs) in primary healthcare (PHC) face a rise in patients with non-communicable diseases and increasing climate-related challenges, underscoring the need for education addressing IPC and sustainability to build resilient healthcare.

Aim:
This paper presents the protocol of the REALISE study, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a didactic concept integrating collaborative, digital, and sustainability skills within multimodal training modules (including simulations).

Methods:
In this prospective trial, HCSPs working in PHC and students in their final year of education in related professions are recruited to participate in interprofessional training modules, which take place on four days within a month in person and with additional e-learning elements between those days. The modules consist of didactic elements on IPC and sustainability, simulation scenarios with acting patients, and immersive virtual reality scenarios. The primary outcomes assess IPC by utilizing the Teamwork Assessment Scale, the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (9a/9b), and the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey. Secondary outcomes focus on sustainability and environmental awareness, as well as the organization and structure of the training modules.

Discussion:
The findings of this study will demonstrate the effect of proprietary training modules on IPC and will inform on the integration of respective modules into standard curricula and continuing educational programmes at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences.