Building Foundations for Interprofessional Practice Using an Ergonomic IPE in Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Occupational Therapy Programs

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) professionals face a high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs), with one in five experiencing career-ending injuries and 90% scanning in pain.1,2,3 These injuries often develop unnoticed due to poor ergonomic habits. Occupational Therapy (OT) practitioners can provide valuable ergonomic assessments to mitigate WRMSDs.4Implementation: DMS and OT faculty created an interprofessional education (IPE) activity where OT students assessed DMS students’ ergonomics during live scanning. In 2023 and 2024, 28 DMS students performed ultrasound examinations while 57 OT students acted as scan models or evaluators. The activity was delivered synchronously in-person and virtually. DMS students shared information about roles and duties of the profession, and OT students provided a written ergonomic evaluation reviewed during a post-activity debrief.1,4Evaluation plan: Separate DMS and OT student post-experience surveys were developed by faculty and included closed and open-ended questions. Surveys gathered information on students’ confidence, IPE helpfulness, and understanding of the other profession. Surveys were delivered online, and completion was optional. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all quantitative data and included frequencies and percentages for the nominal data.Outcome(s) and significance: Survey results showed OT students gained a deeper understanding of sonographers' roles and the ergonomic challenges they face. After the experience, 85% of OT students felt more confident in performing ergonomic evaluations. 94% of DMS students found the ergonomic evaluation helpful and planned to implement the suggested changes. Additionally, 100% of OT students and 94% of DMS students reported gaining a better understanding of the other profession’s roles.