Infectious Diseases Around the World: An Interprofessional, Practice Based Education Program

Background

Infectious diseases pose ongoing public health challenges worldwide and require effective collaboration across disciplines. However, education on outbreak prevention and control is often discipline‑specific and theory‑driven. To address this gap, an interdisciplinary, practice‑oriented 10‑week education program was developed for students from healthcare, life sciences, communication, technology, and related fields. The program focuses on infectious disease transmission, outbreak recognition, diagnostics, prevention, and control through realistic, scenario‑based learning.

Objectives

The program aimed to strengthen interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and practical and theoretical skills relevant to infectious disease prevention and outbreak response. Objectives included improving knowledge of transmission, diagnostics, prevention, and global impact, as well as enhancing communication, collaboration, and critical thinking through hands‑on learning. Outcomes were assessed via a theory exam after three weeks and a criterion‑referenced interview on interprofessional collaboration in week nine.

Results

Students valued the interprofessional design and reported increased awareness of the importance of collaboration across disciplines. Working in mixed teams, practical scenarios, and exposure to diverse perspectives supported active learning and IPC skill development. Guest lectures and engaging themes enhanced motivation. Students suggested clearer expectations, a better balance between theory and application, and more varied assessment formats to further strengthen learning outcomes.

Conclusions

This program shows that interdisciplinary, practice‑based education can strengthen competencies needed for infectious disease prevention and outbreak preparedness. Its scenario‑driven, interprofessional approach is transferable to other educational and international contexts where multidisciplinary collaboration is essential.

Key messages

• Interprofessional, scenario‑based education effectively prepares students from diverse disciplines to collaborate on infectious disease prevention and outbreak response.

• Applied learning focused on real‑world infectious disease challenges strengthens both public health understanding and interprofessional competencies across educational contexts.