Exercise #5
Interdisciplinary Communication
Authors: Prof. Karmen Erjavec and Sabina Krsnik, MBA
30–40 minutes
Description
Students simulate interdisciplinary communication in a healthcare project scenario. By taking on different professional roles, they analyse competing priorities and negotiate a shared solution.
Methodological Guide
Objectives
Develop the ability to communicate effectively across professional boundaries in healthcare.
Recognise the value of diverse professional perspectives for problem-solving and patient safety.
Strengthen negotiation and conflict-resolution skills within interdisciplinary teams.
Identify behaviours that foster or hinder teamwork and collaboration.
Apply communication strategies that balance different professional interests and goals.
Recognise the value of diverse professional perspectives for problem-solving and patient safety.
Strengthen negotiation and conflict-resolution skills within interdisciplinary teams.
Identify behaviours that foster or hinder teamwork and collaboration.
Apply communication strategies that balance different professional interests and goals.
Expected Outcomes
After completing this exercise, students will be able to:
Describe communication patterns that support or undermine interdisciplinary teamwork.
Demonstrate awareness of how professional jargon and hierarchy affect collaboration.
Apply negotiation and conflict-resolution strategies in team settings.
Evaluate their own communication behaviour in interprofessional contexts.
Describe communication patterns that support or undermine interdisciplinary teamwork.
Demonstrate awareness of how professional jargon and hierarchy affect collaboration.
Apply negotiation and conflict-resolution strategies in team settings.
Evaluate their own communication behaviour in interprofessional contexts.
Exercise Procedure
Stage 1: Brief theoretical introduction to interdisciplinary communication and teamwork.
Stage 2: Presentation of the practice example (hospital introduces a new digital system).
Stage 3: Role-play task — students take on professional roles (nurse, lawyer, economist, IT specialist) and discuss priorities, conflicts, and compromises.
Stage 4: Group reflection on communication strategies and team dynamics.
Stage 5: Interactive drag-and-drop activity — students categorise statements into “What helps teamwork” and “What hinders teamwork”, receiving immediate feedback.
Stage 2: Presentation of the practice example (hospital introduces a new digital system).
Stage 3: Role-play task — students take on professional roles (nurse, lawyer, economist, IT specialist) and discuss priorities, conflicts, and compromises.
Stage 4: Group reflection on communication strategies and team dynamics.
Stage 5: Interactive drag-and-drop activity — students categorise statements into “What helps teamwork” and “What hinders teamwork”, receiving immediate feedback.
Mode of Implementation
Group-based (role play and discussion)
Theoretical Basis
This exercise is grounded in Section 9.4 of the handbook and foundational theories of interprofessional education and practice. Johnson and Johnson’s social interdependence theory (2009) emphasises that positive interdependence, individual accountability, and promotive interaction are essential for effective teamwork. Reeves et al. (2011) highlight that interprofessional collaboration improves patient outcomes and team performance. Campinha-Bacote’s (2002) model of cultural competence underlines that professionals must develop awareness, knowledge, skill, encounters, and desire to work effectively across professional and cultural boundaries. Together, these frameworks support the importance of shared communication norms, mutual respect, and structured dialogue in interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Practical Application
In real healthcare environments, professionals from medicine, nursing, law, economics, and information technology must regularly collaborate on complex decisions. Breakdowns in communication—due to jargon, hierarchy, or conflicting priorities—can directly harm patient safety. This exercise prepares students to navigate these challenges by practising active listening, respectful negotiation, and role-aware communication in a simulated team setting.
Required Resources
Classroom or online platform with breakout rooms. Optional whiteboard or shared document for noting solutions. Paper and pencil.
Assessment / Evaluation
Self-assessment: Students reflect on their role in the team discussion and identify areas for improvement.
Peer feedback: Team members provide structured feedback on communication behaviours observed during role play.
Teacher observation: The teacher monitors group dynamics, communication strategies, and conflict-resolution approaches.
Interactive quiz evaluation: The drag-and-drop activity provides immediate formative feedback, helping students assess their understanding of teamwork-supporting and teamwork-hindering behaviours.
Peer feedback: Team members provide structured feedback on communication behaviours observed during role play.
Teacher observation: The teacher monitors group dynamics, communication strategies, and conflict-resolution approaches.
Interactive quiz evaluation: The drag-and-drop activity provides immediate formative feedback, helping students assess their understanding of teamwork-supporting and teamwork-hindering behaviours.
Discussion Topics
Stage 1 — Interdisciplinary role scenario
A hospital is introducing a new digital patient-information system on a limited budget. A multidisciplinary team — a nurse, a lawyer, an economist, and an IT specialist — must decide together how to roll it out. Choose one of these four roles and take it on for this stage. Answer the three prompts below from inside that role.
- Your role
- Your professional interests and concerns
- A balanced solution
A hospital is introducing a new digital patient-information system on a limited budget. A multidisciplinary team — a nurse, a lawyer, an economist, and an IT specialist — must decide together how to roll it out. Choose one of these four roles and take it on for this stage. Answer the three prompts below from inside that role.
- Your role
- Your professional interests and concerns
- A balanced solution