Expanding Awareness of Privilege Through Curiosity, Accountability, Appreciation, Respect, Empathy, and Service (CAARES), a New Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) Event
Interprofessional Student Poster Description:
Background: Health profession schools need to meet the demands of caring for a diverse population. Empathy and the understanding of how privilege can affect health care are essential in providing proper care for patients. An Interprofessional Practice and Education (IPE) event about Curiosity, Accountability, Appreciation, Respect, Empathy, and Service (CAARES) was developed to address these concerns.
Objective: To implement an interactive interprofessional activity surrounding privilege to (1) increase awareness of one’s own privileges and (2) increase empathy for those who have a different life experience.
Methods: An interprofessional team of faculty and a student researcher developed eighty-one yes/no questions that were posed to faculty, staff, and students at West Virginia University (WVU) highlighting privileges a person might have. The questions were printed and spread throughout the facility with props. To facilitate anonymity, all stickers were identical, and students could go through the simulation privately. Each “yes” response was recorded by placing a sticker on a posterboard placed under each question. An electronic survey option was available for participants in place of the stickers. An optional closing survey was available for those who completed the event. Total counts of stickers for each question were recorded for analysis. Pharmacy and dental hygiene students had debriefing sessions the day after the simulation.
Results: Two hundred and four individuals participated in the event in March 2023. Analysis of results showed that participants do not always have reliable access to food for lunch (37%). Many participants felt a colleague could make comments themselves could not (54%) and worried about receiving criticism or rejection when expressing themselves (56%). Most participants have access to health insurance (96%). Fifty participants responded to the optional closing survey. Most rated the event as very good/excellent (88%). As many commented, the event was eye-opening.
Conclusion: The IPE CAARES event was well-received by participants. In the closing survey, many stated the event was enjoyable. Participants highlighted how open-minded it was to learn about privileges that exist in this cohort.
Implications: This event attempted to increase the self-awareness of privilege among health-science students, staff, and faculty, and emphasized areas for improvement. IPE CAARES can be replicated at other institutions to have additional participants become aware of the privileges that exist among their group.
Priority Criteria: IPE CAARES fulfills the criteria of inclusion of a student on the author or presenter team and identification and addressing of factors beyond clinical care.
