Examining the measurement properties of the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) in paramedic education.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare systems are continuing searching for alternative service delivery models while at the same time also promoting interprofessional practice and cooperation among workers. One scale that aims to measure interprofessional cooperation is the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS), although limited psychometric testing on its validity and reliability has been carried out. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the dimensionality and internal consistency of the IEPS (suggested by McFadyen and colleagues) when completed by a group of paramedic undergraduates.

METHODS

Data from the IEPS were analysed with a factor analysis using a Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) with Oblique Oblimin rotation.

RESULTS

A total of (n=303) undergraduate paramedic students participated in the study who reported having positive attitudes towards interprofessional cooperation. Factor analysis of the 12-items revealed two factors with eigenvalues above 1, accounting for 53.85% of the total variance. Items with loadings greater than ±.30, with the factor in question were used to describe the two factors: Cooperation and Teamwork, and Positivity.

CONCLUSION

While data from this study produced a multi-dimensional scale with adequate eigenvalues and communalities, improvements to the scales internal consistency can be made with future data sets. The results from the IEPS suggest that undergraduate paramedics have positive regard towards interprofessional cooperation.