Abstract:

Interprofessional and multidisciplinary relationships in healthcare are crucial for improving patient management outcomes in the short, medium, and long term. This study, which was based on a project by the Optometry Teaching Innovation Group at the University of Valencia, aimed to analyze the importance and relevance that Optics and Optometry students place on skills in interprofessional and multidisciplinary relationships as an integral component of their academic training. An anonymous questionnaire was given to Optics and Optometry students (undergraduate and master's levels) to assess their knowledge about the connections of their future profession with other disciplines. Later, the participants watched two informative videos about professional interrelation with Optometry and answered a second questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel with a confidence level of 95% and a significance level of p < 0.05. Fifty-seven students participated in the first questionnaire and thirty-one in the second. The results indicated that students value the relationships between their profession and other health professions as significantly important, with a notable improvement in valuation after watching the videos (p = 0.03). Collaboration with Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology was highly perceived, and the second survey extended positive valuation to other professions. There was almost unanimous agreement (98-100%) on the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, with perceived benefits in service quality and research advancement. Experientially, the activity was considered of great interest and relevance to their future profession, with most students willing to recommend it (95.48%). Teaching and promoting interprofessional and multidisciplinary skills constitute a relevant (though still underdeveloped) resource in the training of optometry students, enhancing patient-centered healthcare. Fostering collaboration and communication among different health professionals optimizes patient outcomes and resource utilization, promoting a more efficient health system. Educational institutions must integrate these skills into their curricula and provide practical opportunities for their strengthening. Health leaders and educators must prioritize these relationships to maximize benefits in patient care and overcome challenges.

Keywords:

Healthcare training, multidisciplinary collaboration, university.