Abstract
Interprofessional education in healthcare (IEH) is a strategy to prepare professionals who are capable of working in a team by developing interactive-based collaboration and learning competencies. The Federal University of Sao Paulo’s (UNIFESP) education plan is based on the principles of IEH for professional training. The aim of this study was to understand the influence of interprofessional education on the career trajectory of occupational therapy students graduating from UNIFESP. Adopting a qualitative approach, data was collected using an online semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that interprofessional education helped professionals feel secure when engaging in collaborative practice and fostered teamwork and the development of actions aimed at promoting comprehensive care. However, the findings also highlight challenges related to the recognition of the professional identity of occupational therapists and in working together with professionals trained from a uniquely disciplinary perspective.
Occupational therapy; Interprofessional education; Graduates; Interprofessional relationships