HNRS 396: Interprofessional Global Health Study Abroad
My role in this course was a member of a team of interprofessional students working to learn from and serve the community of Donegal. From interacting with members in the community center through teaching and participating in ongoing classes to learning about the history and culture of Donegal, I took on a role as an experiential learner, absorbing all the experiences the trip had to offer.
Our health promotion activities seemed to benefit the community in various ways. We worked with a multitude of populations including the women and men adults of the community, the seniors in the daycare center, the teenage students, and the elementary school students. Some of the topics we taught included stretching/yoga techniques, proper dental hygiene habits, how to use health-related apps, blood glucose screenings, impaired driving with simulation goggles, fall prevention and balance, and vascular screening. We all had an opportunity to present our own topic, to learn from each other, and teach or observe in different groups’ topics. My topic was vascular screening, and I was able to take blood pressures and find the screening ratios of the adult women and senior groups. For individuals with ratios out of the normal range, I was able to give them tips to prevent vascular disease and recommend that they see their physician. The younger students seemed to benefit from learning about dental hygiene and exercise. Practicing healthy habits from a young age is beneficial to a lifespan of wellness, and these topics were informational and engaging for them. The teenagers benefitted from the impaired driving topic. Earlier this year, the community suffered the loss of some young adults from drinking and driving, and although the activity was fun and engaging, the lesson is so important to young drivers. The elderly strongly benefited from the fall prevention topic, because it taught them how to calmly handle a situation in which they have fallen, and they learned simple exercises to do daily to improve their balance. Overall, the teaching topics educated a wide range of community members and had the potential to improve their overall health.
Something unique about this experience was that I was not just focused on my own teaching topic. I was able to observe and help with the other topics, and learn from students with other health concentrations and majors. For example, I learned about good brushing techniques and how impactful sugar can be on your teeth. As an Exercise Science major, my studies often focus on sugar and its effects on dieting, heart health, and physical activity. Learning about the same concept from a different profession’s perspective was beneficial to me because it illustrates how health and wellness is all connected. Working and learning with an interprofessional community emphasizes how important each role in the healthcare field is. Each profession has a different perspective, but we all work toward a common goal as a team. It is important to value the opinions and perspectives of other professions. Learning alongside different professions and concentrations will be beneficial to the transfer to the workforce because we will most likely be working with an interprofessional team in any healthcare career.
Participation in this course has affected my concept of my place in the world because it has shown me that there are so many diverse cultures and ways of life. This was my first time abroad, and it was amazing to see the little differences in the everyday lives of people in Donegal. I noticed that the people in Donegal live a much slower paced life than the people in America, which is quite refreshing. We were often offered coffee or tea before we did anything, and that is just an example of how hospitable the culture is. People treat each other like family, and in many places in America, we do not see that. Visiting Northern Ireland was an eye-opening experience as well because we were able to see the divide between Catholics and Protestants and hear about the political issues going on in the nation. We also learned about Bloody Sunday and how finally after decades these issues are just now becoming resolved. In America, citizens get so wrapped up in our own politics that we often forget about the other issues occurring around the world. In Northern Ireland, we also had the opportunity to learn about a federally-funded healthcare system with optional extra coverage. My viewpoint on health care issues worldwide has been broadened because I was able to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of this type of system compared to America.
This study abroad will impact my professional practice in various ways. The interprofessional aspect of this class has proven to me the importance of working with other health professionals. Working with an interprofessional team is important to the healthcare settings of both America and Ireland. We listened to a panel of healthcare professionals and a social prescriber in Donegal, and they emphasized the importance of communicating with their team of professionals (nurse to doctor, nurse to psychologist, etc.) in the patient’s favor. From my previous volunteer experience, I know that many healthcare settings and hospitals use a team-based approach for their patients. Working as an interprofessional team has given me the ability to communicate with professionals of other concentrations and has taught me to be open-minded to different perspectives on healthcare. Aside from working with an interprofessional team, this trip has opened my eyes to healthcare in a country besides America. We learned about the different care strategies, health issues, and financial aspects of care. It is important to be accepting of these differences and learn from the experience of serving the community. Having a well-rounded point of view will be beneficial to working with patients of diverse backgrounds and cultures in my own professional practice.
This study abroad program was arguably one of the best experiences I have had in my academic career. I had the opportunity to experience a new culture, serve a community in need, create bonds with an interprofessional community of students from my college, and practice skills I will use in my future career as a physical therapist. The program was so successful because of the passion I saw from everyone involved, including the professors, students, and the Donegal community members. This was such a valuable experience for me, and I will continue to apply what I have learned from this experience to my college career and future healthcare profession.