Integrated Allied Healthcare For Healthy Ageing in Australia and Japan: Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, Education And Research
Marianne Piano1,2, Daisuke Sawamura5, Kwang Cham1, Sandra Iuliano3,4, Naoya Hasegawa5 1Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University Of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia2National Vision Research Institute, Australian College of Optometry, Melbourne, VIC, Australia3Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia4Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences, Western Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia5Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Abstract
Background: Multimorbidity and frailty among older adults are associated with complex healthcare needs, requiring input from multiple allied health disciplines to manage. The need for
integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to support ‘ageing in place’ has been acknowledged in research and policy. However, barriers exist to successful implementation, leading to calls for innovative knowledge translation strategies to facilitate widespread improvements to care for older adults. We present findings from an interprofessional workshop programme conducted in Victoria, Australia, and Hokkaido, Japan
Methods: We held a Zoom-based online case study afternoon and a hybrid online/in-person interprofessional education workshop in Sapporo, Japan. Attendees were primarily allied health professionals, students, clinical educators and researchers. The case study afternoon highlighted perspectives from allied health and medical professionals in Japan and Australia, regarding integrated care for older adults. Attendees completed a feedback survey to share their
learning experiences. The interprofessional education workshop comprised research presentations and discussion groups to further explore barriers and facilitators to integrated
interdisciplinary allied healthcare and research in community, acute and aged care settings.
Results: Over 70 people attended each event. Attending disciplines included optometry, nutrition, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing and medicine. Perceived facilitators for interdisciplinary integrated allied health care/research/education included funding, time, ease of sharing information, effectiveness and representation of specialties, a positive environment for interdisciplinary practice and a sense of shared purpose. Respondents felt there could be more involvement of certain allied health professions, and interdisciplinary case studies would be beneficial to incorporate within future teaching programs.
Conclusions: Australia and Japan experience shared opportunities and challenges regarding integrated allied healthcare for older adults, with a united focus on preventive care. The workshop program was well received and resulted in opportunities to include information about vision impairment in dementia and after stroke within the Japanese allied health curriculum in Hokkaido
Biography
Marianne qualified as an orthoptist in 2008 from University of Liverpool. After some time in clinical practice, diagnosing and managing binocular vision and ocular motility disorders in children and adults, she completed a Masters in Research at the University of Liverpool and moved to Glasgow Caledonian University to study visual distortions arising in amblyopia for her PhD.
Marianne has recently commenced a joint post as a Clinical Vision Research Fellow, working between the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences and the Australian College of Optometry’s National Vision Research Institute.