Perceptions of academic deans regarding interprofessional education and its implementation in dental colleges in India: results of a national survey

This national survey was conducted to assess perceptions and status of implementation of interprofessional education in dental colleges in India. An online link to the questionnaire survey was sent to Deans and Academic Deans of those dental colleges having more than one health profession institute on the same campus. The response rate was 47%. Dental colleges' primary collaborative partner was a medical faculty (46%), with the majority of IPE experiences occurring in post-graduation (58%). Lectures (54%), case-based discussions (64%) were reported to be predominant teaching-learning methods, while written exams (40%), small group participation, and group projects (30%) were predominant assessment methods of IPE experiences. Seventy-six percent responded that there are no faculty development initiatives for IPE while 20% responded that IPE is at planning/developmental stage and 38% responded that IPE is not considered presently. Faculty resistance (32%), academic calendars, and schedule (34%) were pointed out to be the most common barriers to implementing IPE. The findings revealed that although the concept and importance of IPE were well perceived by Academic Deans throughout dental colleges in India, and although dental colleges' co-existed with other faculties on same campus, IPE was not systematically implemented with minimal formal interprofessional education involving dental students.