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. 2026 Jun 1;21(6):e0331157. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331157

Experiences, challenges, and enablers for promoting interprofessional education among medical students: A scoping review

Maxwell Ateni Assibi 1,*, Bruce Ayabilla Abugri 1, Patience Afua Adwaapa Karikari 1, Shamsu-Deen Ziblim 2, Victor Mogre 1
Editor: Ebtsam Aly Abou Hashish3
PMCID: PMC13225340  PMID: 42224191

Abstract

Background

Interprofessional education (IPE) has been commonly employed to facilitate preparation for collaborative practice among medical students. However, differences in IPE implementation and a lack of synthesis of student experiences continue to influence its integration into medical education.

Methods

The scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley guidelines and was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR extension. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to include studies published between 2014 and 2024. The search yielded eight studies that met the inclusion criteria for this review. The results were synthesized to explore students’ experiences, challenges, and facilitators regarding IPE.

Results

The review found that medical students generally reported having a positive orientation towards collaborative practice and valued the opportunity to learn with others. However, understanding of professional roles was more inconsistent. Identified challenges included ambiguity of roles, hierarchy of professions, and constraints of time and organization. Enablers included integration into the curriculum, learning in practice, interaction and support.

Conclusion

IPE facilitates learning in collaborative practice, and its effectiveness relies on its development and implementation. Further consideration should be given to role clarification, learning, and integration in medical education programs. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of IPE on professional practice.

1 Introduction

The nature of healthcare is increasingly complex, and many patients suffer from multimorbidities, necessitating coordinated and collaborative practice among healthcare professionals. Therefore, effective collaboration and communication among healthcare professionals are vital for ensuring safety, effective practice, and improved efficiency in the delivery of health services. In response to this need, IPE has emerged as an important pedagogical approach in health professions education [1]. The World Health Organisation [2] states that interprofessional education is “the process whereby students from two or more professions learn together and with each other about, from, and with each other to improve collaboration and practice in health and health-related contexts.” Thus, IPE aims to improve collaborative practice among health professions by ensuring role clarity, communication, mutual respect, and decision-making.

In the context of undergraduate medical education, IPE has become increasingly important, with medical students required to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team with nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals. Empirical research has also shown that IPE activities, such as simulation-based learning, IPE clinical placement, and peer-assisted workshops, may have a positive effect on the attitudes and perceived competence of medical students in working in a multidisciplinary team [3–5]. For example, scenario-based simulation learning has been shown to have a positive effect on the attitudes of medical students towards IPE [4], whereas IPE-based anatomy workshops with medical and physiotherapy students have shown positive effects on understanding the role of other professionals [5]. Longitudinal IPE placement has also been shown to reduce silo working and promote the development of professional identity in medical students [6,7].

Despite these perceived advantages, the integration of IPE in the medical curriculum has been observed to vary in different contexts. Logistical issues, such as time conflicts and the lack of shared learning environments, have been cited as obstacles in the integration of IPE [8]. Professional status and role ambiguities have also been noted to affect student engagement and participation in IPE contexts [5,7]. Furthermore, there is a perceived variation in the preparedness and commitment of the faculty in the integration of IPE [9]. These studies indicate that, although IPE is perceived to have a positive effect on the skills for collaborative practice, the outcome is influenced by other factors.

Even though IPE has been extensively studied in the context of various professions in health professions education, the majority of the existing reviews have also synthesized the results of studies conducted on mixed cohorts of professions without specifically focusing on the perspectives of medical students. Therefore, the experiences, challenges, and facilitators related to IPE in the context of undergraduate medical education have yet to be sufficiently consolidated. Despite increasing interest in IPE, there is limited synthesis of evidence focusing specifically on medical students’ experiences, challenges, and enabling factors. Given the important roles that physicians play in the delivery of healthcare services, the perspectives of medical students need to be specifically examined, making the scoping review an appropriate method for conducting the review.

1.1 Objective

The objective of this scoping review was to map and synthesize empirical evidence on medical students’ experiences, challenges, and enablers related to participation in IPE programs.

1.2 Review questions

This review was guided by the following questions:

  1. What are the reported experiences of medical students participating in IPE programs?

  2. What challenges do medical students encounter in the implementation of IPE?

  3. What factors enable effective implementation and sustainability of IPE in undergraduate medical education?

2 Method

2.1 Study design and framework

This study used a scoping review approach to systematically map the empirical evidence on the experiences, challenges, and enablers of medical students’ participation in the IPE programs. The scoping review method was used in this study because the aim of this study was to examine the nature, extent, and character of the available evidence, not to evaluate the effectiveness of the particular interventions or estimate the effects.

The review process was guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley [10], which outlines five main steps in the process, namely, the identification of the research question, the identification of the studies, the selection of the studies, charting the data, and collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. In addition, the methodological recommendations made by Levac et al [11] were used to enrich the clarity in the selection of the studies, the charting of the data, and the synthesis of the results. In the reporting of the results, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews [PRISMA-ScR] was used [12]. The PRISMA-ScR checklist is presented in the S1 File.

The reason why the scoping review method was considered appropriate is the methodological diversity in the existing body of knowledge on IPE in medical education, which include qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method study designs. In addition, the purpose of the review was to map concepts and identify emerging themes and knowledge gaps, and therefore a scoping review was appropriate in the context of the objectives of the study.

2.2 Protocol and reporting standards

This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines [12]. The PRISMA ScR checklist with page numbers indicating the location of each item in the manuscript is included as S1 File for transparency and completeness of reporting.

Although the scoping review protocol was not registered in an external registry at the time of its initiation, the review process, including the research questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, search strategy, and data charting, was predetermined prior to the commencement of the literature search to reduce selection bias and increase methodological consistency. Any changes made to the review process, although minor, are documented and discussed in the appropriate sections of the manuscript.

All aspects of the review process were performed with a focus on methodological transparency and reproducibility, as recommended for systematic and scoping reviews published in PLOS ONE.

2.3 Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria were predefined prior to the literature search using the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework recommended for scoping reviews to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

2.4 Population

The review also included studies conducted on undergraduate medical students who were undertaking accredited medical degree programs. The studies included in this review had to be eligible in terms of the ability to identify and extract study results that are specific to medical students. Studies that focused solely on other health professions, such as nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, were excluded unless the studies provided separate results on medical student data. Studies conducted on postgraduates, healthcare professionals, or faculty staff only were excluded, as this review focused on undergraduate medical student education.

2.4.1 Concept.

The concept of interest was the experiences, perceived challenges, and facilitators of the medical students’ participation in IPE programs. Relevant studies included those that examined the attitudes towards IPE, perceived collaborative learning, understanding of professional role, interprofessional competencies, professional identity, barriers and facilitators of IPE implementation, and other similar concepts in a structured IPE context. Only primary studies were considered, and excluded were studies in the nature of commentaries, editorials, theoretical papers, conference abstracts, review articles, and study protocols without findings.

2.4.2 Context.

Eligible studies were required to examine formal IPE interventions or structured IPE experiences implemented within academic, simulation-based, or clinical training environments. Informal, incidental, or unstructured collaborative experiences not embedded within an identifiable IPE program were excluded to maintain conceptual consistency.

2.4.3 Study design.

The inclusion criteria for the review were qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies, as it is anticipated that research in the field of IPE will exhibit methodological diversity. Additionally, no restrictions were placed on study design, as the intention of the scoping review is to explore the extent and nature of available research, rather than to evaluate the efficacy of interventions or compute effect sizes.

2.4.4 Timeframe.

The search was restricted to studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. This period was chosen a priori, based on the assumption that it would reflect contemporary IPE practice, which is consistent with the changing competency frameworks and curricula in HPE over the past decade. In addition, the search was restricted to this period to ensure the studies were relevant to the current educational structures and contexts. Although the search covered 2014–2024, no studies published between 2014 and 2018 met the inclusion criteria after full-text screening.

2.4.5 Language.

Only studies published in English were included due to feasibility constraints and resource limitations.

2.5 Information sources

A comprehensive literature search was done, and the following electronic databases were used to retrieve the relevant studies. The following databases were used in the systematic search strategy: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

The databases used in the study were chosen to provide a wide coverage of the medical, health profession education, and inter-disciplinary research literature.

In addition to the systematic search strategy, a secondary search was done on Google Scholar to retrieve potentially relevant studies that may have been missed in the systematic search strategy. In addition, the reference lists of the retrieved studies were also manually checked. The final search was done in December 2024.

2.6 Search strategy

The search strategy was developed a priori to align with the review objective and eligibility criteria. Keywords and controlled vocabulary terms related to IPE and medical students were combined using Boolean operators. The search strategy was adapted appropriately for each database.

The core search terms included combinations of:

“IPE” OR “interdisciplinary education” OR “interprofessional learning” AND “medical students” OR “undergraduate medical education” OR “medical education” AND “experience” OR “perception” OR “attitude” OR “challenge” OR “barrier” OR “facilitator” OR “enabler”.

In PubMed, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms were incorporated where appropriate, including “Education, Medical” and “Interprofessional Relations.” Truncation and phrase searching were used to enhance sensitivity of retrieval. Boolean operators (“AND,” “OR”) were applied systematically to ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant literature.

The full search strategies for all databases, including complete search strings and filters applied, are provided in S2 File to ensure reproducibility and transparency.

2.7 Study selection

All records obtained from the database searches were then exported to a reference management tool (EndNote or Clarivate Analytics) to organize the records and filter out any duplicates.

The study selection process involved two steps. In the first step, the titles and abstracts of the studies obtained in the above manner were independently screened against the inclusion criteria by two researchers. In the second step, the full texts of the studies that appeared to meet the inclusion criteria in the first step were obtained, and the inclusion/exclusion decision was made based on the full texts.

Any disagreement in the inclusion or exclusion decision between the researchers at any step of the study selection process was resolved by mutual discussion and agreement. In cases where disagreement could not be resolved by mutual discussion, the inclusion/exclusion decision was made with the help of a third researcher.

The study selection process is summarized in the PRISMA-ScR 2020 flow diagram shown in Fig 1. All the numerical values used in the text match the values in the PRISMA-ScR [2020] flow diagram.

Fig 1. PRISMA-ScR flow diagram illustrating the study selection process.

Fig 1

2.8 Data charting process

The data were extracted using a structured data charting form, which was designed by the research team before data extraction. This form was tested by applying it to some included studies to assess its clarity and consistency.

The data extracted from each included study consisted of the following: Author(s), year of publication, country where the study took place, study design, sample characteristics, description of IPE intervention or learning context, and important findings related to medical students’ experiences, challenges, and enabling factors

The data extraction process was completed independently by two researchers. The extracted data were verified for accuracy and completeness. Inconsistencies were addressed through discussion and consensus to ensure data interpretation consistency.

No data interpretation was made other than what was explicitly stated by each included study. The data were extracted as it was reported by each study to maintain transparency and avoid bias.

2.9 Data synthesis and analysis

The extracted data were subjected to a narrative thematic synthesis approach for analysis and synthesis of the results. Considering the methodological heterogeneity of the included studies, statistical meta-analysis of the results was neither appropriate nor performed. Instead, the results were synthesized descriptively to identify patterns and concepts of relevance to the review questions.

The extracted data were first categorized into the three domains of interest, namely, medical students’ experiences of IPE, challenges faced in the implementation of IPE, and factors facilitating effective implementation of IPE, as per the research questions and domains of interest identified for the review.

Within each domain of interest, the results of individual studies were reviewed iteratively to identify common themes and variations with regard to the research questions and domains of interest identified for the review.

Thematic grouping was undertaken inductively, enabling the emergence of findings based on the reported results rather than the imposition of predetermined groupings beyond the overall review domains. The themes were developed through discussion to ensure consistency and alignment with the original study results.

The synthesis sought to provide information on the nature and range of experiences, challenges, and enablers reported without quantification of results or ranking of study quality. The results were presented narratively with descriptive summary tables.

2.10 Critical appraisal

In keeping with the scoping review methodological approach, no risk of bias or methodological quality assessment of the included studies was undertaken. The main aim of the scoping review was to establish the breadth, nature, and characteristics of the existing evidence on the experiences, challenges, and facilitators of medical students in IPE contexts, rather than the effectiveness of the intervention or the strength of the evidence.

As the scoping review approach suggests, the focus of the review, based on the methodological approach outlined by [10] and its refinements [11,12], is to give an overview of the available evidence without considering the methodological quality. However, the methodological characteristics of the studies included in the review, including the sample, context, and study, have been included in the summary tables for the reader’s interpretation in the context of the studies conducted.

3 Results

3.1 Study selection

The total number of records was found to be 1,500 through database searching. After removing the duplicates, the number of records was reduced to 212, which were then subjected to the title and abstract search. Of the total records, 162 were found to be irrelevant to the review objectives, and the title and abstract search were conducted for the remaining 50 records, of which 42 were found to be irrelevant to the review objectives. Finally, the review was able to include eight studies, and the steps involved in the study selection are given (See S1).

3.2 Characteristics of included studies

The eight studies included in the review were published between 2014 and 2024, and they were conducted in diverse geographical locations, such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The methodological approaches of the included studies varied, with some using quantitative approaches such as pre–post quantitative designs, cross-sectional survey designs, qualitative phenomenological and thematic approaches, and one study using a mixed method approach. The sample sizes of the included studies varied, with some having small sample sizes, whereas others had larger sample sizes, with some studies having cohorts of undergraduate medical students at different levels of training, and some having collaborative cohorts of medical and nursing students.

The nature and length of the interventions used in the IPE studies also varied, with some being longitudinal community-based interventions, problem-based learning, clinical internships, simulation sessions, and on-field training sessions. Quantitative studies included the use of standard tools such as the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS), Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS), Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS), and the German Interprofessional Attitudes Scale (G-IPAS) tool. Qualitative studies involved the use of semi-structured interviews or focus group discussions with thematic and phenomenological approaches.

The characteristics of the included studies, as well as the overall findings, are described (See Sect 2).

3.3 Medical students’ experiences of IPE

In general, medical students perceived IPE as an educational experience, although the nature of the experience varied from setting to setting.

The results from the four studies [3,7,13,14] revealed that the medical students had positive perceptions regarding the opportunity to learn with other people and engage in team practice. The results from [7] revealed increased scores in teamwork and professional identity, while [14] revealed changes in the perceptions of the medical students on multiple aspects, especially cooperation and competence. [3] revealed positive perceptions from the medical students, especially regarding the early inclusion of IPE in the curriculum, while [13] revealed that the medical students, although open to the idea of learning with other people, had uncertainty related to the roles.

However, this was not always the case. [15] observed a decrease in collaboration after taking part in IPE, but no obvious improvement in communication. It can be inferred that this is affected by how learning experiences are structured.

More information can be gained from three different studies conducted by [9] [16], and [17]. From this literature, it can be inferred that students’ experiences are affected by various factors such as attitude, motivation, interaction, and expectations. [9] described experiences in terms of engagement, collaboration, and challenges such as limited time. [16] expressed experiences in the case of curriculum structure, role recognition, and social influences. From the study conducted by [17], it can be inferred that students’ experiences are affected by prior perceptions and professional identity.

From this literature, it can be inferred that even though students have a positive attitude towards IPE, they do not have an obvious understanding of professional roles and responsibilities.

3.4 Challenges in implementing IPE

Several challenges that affected the implementation of IPE were identified in the studies.

From the three studies [7, 9, 13], evidence suggests that the students did not have clarity regarding professional roles and responsibilities. The students remained uncertain even after participating in the IPE activities.

Social and professional dynamics also affected the engagement of the students. In two studies [16,17], the students explained the hierarchy and assumptions that affected the interaction and engagement during the shared learning.

In three studies, organizational issues were cited as a barrier [3, 9, 16]. This includes time, scheduling, and academic demands, all of which impact engagement.

Furthermore, differences among student groups were also noted. [3] noted differences in attitudes depending on levels of training and gender, implying that IPE experiences are not uniform.

In all, the barriers to engagement in IPE are a mix of role, social, and organizational issues [18].

3.5 Enablers of effective IPE

At the same time, the studies also identified factors that supported the effective implementation of IPE.

From the findings of [3] and [16], it is clear that curriculum planning plays an important role. The students were more positive when they had an IPE that was structured and part of the curriculum, rather than just isolated activities.

In three studies, [14], [9], and [17], the findings emphasized the value of learning experiences that were linked to practice. This is important for student engagement.

Another factor that played an important role in the implementation of IPE was the provision of opportunities to interact with each other. From the findings of [17] and [16] the provision of opportunities to discuss and participate in activities with each other helped the students to understand different perspectives and roles.

Institutional support also played an important role in the implementation of IPE. From the findings of [3], the coordination of IPE activities within the curriculum played an important role.

From the findings of the studies, it is clear that effective IPE is dependent on structured programs, interaction, and practice.

3.6 Summary of evidence patterns

In the eight studies reviewed [3,7,9,13–17], the following patterns emerged:

The students generally responded well to the opportunity to learn with other students and saw the relevance of IPE to collaborative practice. The results related to role understanding, however, were less consistent, reflecting some uncertainty and change.

The evidence also suggests that the outcome is influenced by the way in which the IPE is facilitated. Activities that are integrated into the curriculum and/or practice are found to be more relevant than stand-alone sessions.

Similar challenges have been found across the settings, including the ambiguity and hierarchy associated with roles and the constraints related to the organization. At the same time, the positive aspects, such as interaction, integration, and practice, have been consistent.

In the end, the studies suggest that while IPE is important in the development of collaborative practice, the outcome is dependent on the way in which the IPE is facilitated in the educational setting

4 Discussion

4.1 Principal findings

This review illustrates an important feature of the ways in which medical students engage with IPE. While the data indicate that medical students have a positive orientation towards collaborative practice, this is not always accompanied by an understanding of professional roles.

This is an important feature because, while medical students are actively engaging with collaborative practice, they are not always clear about their professional roles [19]. The importance of this is that, while medical students may have a positive orientation towards collaborative practice, this is not enough on its own to ensure that they have an understanding of professional roles.

A further important feature that emerges from the data is the extent to which the outcome of IPE is related to the way in which the educational intervention is designed and facilitated. While educational interventions that are linked to clinical practice are associated with more positive engagement, the value of IPE is less clear when the educational intervention is not linked to clinical practice. The importance of this is that the way in which IPE is designed and facilitated is clearly an important factor in the outcome of IPE. Therefore, the data suggest that the focus should move away from the need to increase engagement with IPE and towards the need to ensure that IPE is designed and facilitated effectively.

4.2 Interpretation in relation to existing literature

The findings of this review concur with previous work, which indicates that IPE can have an impact on students’ preparedness for collaborative practice [20]. Reviews conducted by [21] and [22] have indicated that “shared learning can have an impact on students’ attitudes to working in a team,” which is in keeping with the positive orientation observed in all the studies.

However, the lack of development in terms of role clarity is a finding that has been a cause for concern for some time. It was argued in [23] that “learning together does not necessarily mean an understanding of professional roles.” The findings of this review concur with this view, suggesting that although students may have a positive attitude to working collaboratively, they may not have an understanding of this without guidance.

The impact of hierarchy and professional identity is in keeping with some of the wider literature. It was argued in [24] that “power dynamics can have an impact on how people interact with one another in a healthcare setting,” often inhibiting communication. This would explain why some students experienced issues with hierarchy and boundaries in some of the studies included in this review [25].

In addition, the greater effect of practice-based learning found in this review supports the idea of the contextual influence on learning. Theories of situated learning [26] propose that understanding is constructed through active engagement with the world around us. This explains the apparent benefits of clinical and applied learning on more meaningful engagement with IPE.

These findings contribute to existing knowledge while also highlighting the apparent disconnect between attitude and understanding of roles. This implies that the current approach to IPE may need to place more emphasis on the interaction of roles [27].

4.3 Methodological considerations of the evidence base

The evidence presented in the articles reviewed gives an important insight into the concept of IPE in various contexts, and the following are some important considerations:

Most of the studies are based on self-reported data, and the data collected is based on the perceptions of the students rather than the actual behavior demonstrated by the students. Although the data is important and gives an important insight into the perceptions of the students, it does not give an accurate picture of the application of collaborative skills by the students in the actual clinical setting.

It is also important to note that the data collected was based on short-term follow-up after the IPE intervention. There is little evidence on the long-term effects and whether the changes are maintained over time. There is also little evidence on the effects of early exposure to IPE and its implications on professional practice later in the career of the student.

The qualitative studies gave an important insight into the student experience, although the studies are based on small samples. Although the data is important, it is not enough to give an accurate picture in all contexts.

These factors indicate that, while the current evidence reveals important patterns, further research is required to determine the long-term effects of IPE.

4.4 Implications for medical education practice

The implications of this review have direct implications for how IPE is designed and implemented.

First, it is imperative to integrate IPE within the curriculum as an ongoing process instead of providing it as discrete experiences. Ongoing experiences allow learners to integrate common learning with clinical practice.

Second, it is imperative to address issues of role clarification within IPE experiences. It is possible for learners to gain a better understanding of their roles through structured experiences.

This is imperative since learners may not be effective in collaborative practice if they have unclear roles.

Third, it is imperative to recognize the importance of faculty within IPE experiences. It is imperative to provide support for faculty to facilitate interactions and learning. Without this, it is possible for IPE experiences to be ineffective.

Fourth, it is imperative to recognize the importance of providing support for learners to address issues of organization. This implies that it is imperative to have an institutional commitment to providing IPE experiences in addition to curriculum design.

4.5 Implications for future research

Further research should also assess if improvements in collaborative perception are long-term and if they result in clinically significant behaviors.

Comparative research on differences between simulation-based, clinically immersive, and longitudinal approaches may also shed light on the aspects of structure that play the greatest role in role understanding and reducing stereotypes.

More geographic representation and research in underrepresented settings will also improve generalizability of the results.

Implementation science approaches may also aid in the evaluation of sustainability and scalability of the interventions.

4.6 Strengths of the review

The review process adhered to the PRISMA-ScR checklists, ensuring transparent reporting of the search, screening, and synthesis processes. The eligibility criteria were determined a priori using the PCC framework, ensuring conceptual focus is maintained. The inclusion of quantitative and qualitative research enabled comprehensive student experience maps to be created, reflecting diverse settings.

4.7 Limitations

Only eight studies met the inclusion criteria, thus limiting the breadth of mapped evidence. The inclusion of studies published in English language only might have led to the exclusion of studies from non-English-speaking countries. No quality appraisal was undertaken, but this is appropriate within the scoping study methodology. The level of study quality must be taken into consideration when interpreting the results

5 Conclusion

This review synthesizes current evidence on IPE among medical students and highlights a consistent gap between positive attitudes towards collaborative practice and a clear understanding of professional roles. This indicates that exposure to IPE alone is not sufficient to support effective team-based practice.

The findings show that the impact of IPE is shaped by how it is structured within the curriculum. Approaches that are integrated, practice-oriented, and supported by guided interaction appear more likely to support meaningful learning.

These findings underscore the need to move beyond introducing IPE towards strengthening its design, with particular attention to role clarification and structured engagement. Future research should examine how early IPE experiences influence clinical practice over time, especially in relation to role understanding and team functioning.

Supporting information

S1 File. Checklist.

(DOCX)

pone.0331157.s001.docx (269.3KB, docx)
S2 File. Search Strategy.

(DOCX)

pone.0331157.s002.docx (26.7KB, docx)
S3 File. Data Extraction Sheet.

(DOCX)

pone.0331157.s003.docx (16.6KB, docx)

Data Availability

All data underlying the findings are fully available within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Funding Statement

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

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Decision Letter 0

Ebtsam Abou Hashish

9 Nov 2025

-->PONE-D-25-43439-->-->The experiences, challenges, and enablers for promoting interprofessional education among medical students: A Scoping Review-->-->PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Assibi,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

Please submit your revised manuscript by Dec 24 2025 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.

Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript:-->

  • A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'.

  • A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'.

  • An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'.

If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter.

If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols.

We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Ebtsam Aly Abou Hashish, Professor

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Journal requirements:

When submitting your revision, we need you to address these additional requirements.

1. Please ensure that your manuscript meets PLOS ONE's style requirements, including those for file naming. The PLOS ONE style templates can be found at

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3. PLOS requires an ORCID iD for the corresponding author in Editorial Manager on papers submitted after December 6th, 2016. Please ensure that you have an ORCID iD and that it is validated in Editorial Manager. To do this, go to ‘Update my Information’ (in the upper left-hand corner of the main menu), and click on the Fetch/Validate link next to the ORCID field. This will take you to the ORCID site and allow you to create a new iD or authenticate a pre-existing iD in Editorial Manager.

4. Please update your submission to use the PLOS LaTeX template. The template and more information on our requirements for LaTeX submissions can be found at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/latex.

5. Please remove your figures from within your manuscript file, leaving only the individual TIFF/EPS image files, uploaded separately. These will be automatically included in the reviewers’ PDF.

6. Please include captions for your Supporting Information files at the end of your manuscript, and update any in-text citations to match accordingly. Please see our Supporting Information guidelines for more information: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/supporting-information.

If the reviewer comments include a recommendation to cite specific previously published works, please review and evaluate these publications to determine whether they are relevant and should be cited. There is no requirement to cite these works unless the editor has indicated otherwise.

Additional Editor Comments:

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. The topic is timely and relevant, exploring experiences and challenges in promoting interprofessional education (IPE) among medical students. Your work can make a useful contribution to the literature once methodological clarity and reporting consistency are improved.

Please address the following key points in your revision:

However, while the topic fits well within the aims of PLOS ONE, the current submission requires substantial revision to achieve methodological clarity, consistency in reporting, and compliance with the journal’s formatting and transparency standards.

Both reviewers agreed that the paper’s potential is evident but expressed serious concerns regarding methodological rigor, internal consistency (particularly in the PRISMA diagram and results section), and overall writing quality. These areas must be addressed comprehensively before further consideration.

Detailed comments

1. Clarity and Consistency

Define “interprofessional education (IPE)” at its first appearance, then use the abbreviation consistently throughout.

Review and correct all in-text citations and reference formatting to match PLOS ONE style requirements.

Avoid long or fragmented sentences and ensure grammatical correctness throughout the manuscript. The writing should be clear, concise, and professional.

2. Methodological Transparency

Expand the Methods section to provide full detail on:

Databases searched, search terms, and date of last search.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria and rationale for each.

Screening and selection process, including how disagreements were resolved.

Criteria used for data extraction, coding, and thematic synthesis.

Clarify how data were “extrapolated” and “charting of trends” was done—currently these are vague and non-reproducible.

Justify the search period (2014–2024). Reviewers noted that all included studies appear to fall between 2019–2024, raising questions about completeness of earlier data.

Provide a more detailed explanation of why only 11 studies were included from an initial pool of 1,500.

3. PRISMA Flow and Reporting Issues

Correct inconsistencies between the text and the PRISMA diagram:

The text states that 1,440 duplicates were removed and 60 records were screened, while the diagram shows “Records after duplicates removed (n=1500)” and 59 screened.

These numbers must reconcile exactly.

Follow PRISMA-ScR (2020) guidance precisely. Include:Clean flow diagram (no color highlights).

PRISMA checklist with page references.

Justifications for any “not applicable” items.

4. Results and Interpretation

Present the narrative results before tables and figures.

Add descriptive footnotes under all tables to specify statistical measures (mean, SD, significance level, and test used, if applicable).

Consider simplifying or merging repetitive tables to reduce redundancy.

Clearly connect findings to the review objectives. Avoid general statements such as “improved teamwork” without evidence.

Provide at least one example of how extracted data informed each theme or conclusion.

5. Discussion and Critical Analysis

Strengthen the critical discussion by referencing recent literature on IPE implementation, especially in low-resource or LMIC contexts.

Explicitly highlight how your findings address gaps in the existing evidence base.

Avoid overstating conclusions; focus on synthesizing key patterns, challenges, and enablers supported by the data.

Add a short paragraph on implications for educators and institutions developing IPE programs.

6. Data Availability and Transparency

Ensure the Data Availability Statement is accurate and compliant with PLOS ONE policy.

Upload the PRISMA-ScR checklist, search strategy, and data extraction sheet as supplementary files.

7. Technical and Formatting Corrections

Correct typographical errors, fragmented sentences, and inconsistent tenses.

Ensure tables and figures are numbered sequentially and cited in-text.

Check for missing details in references (author initials, issue numbers, page ranges, DOIs).

Summary of Required Actions

Please include the following with your revised submission:

A corrected PRISMA 2020 flow diagram.

A completed PRISMA-ScR checklist with page references.

Full search strategies for each database.

Data-charting form or extraction template.

Clear explanations for “data extrapolation” and “trend charting.”

A tracked-changes version of the manuscript.

Clean, final version of the manuscript.

[Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.]

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

-->Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented. -->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

**********

-->2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->

Reviewer #1: N/A

Reviewer #2: No

**********

-->3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

**********

-->4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.-->

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

**********

-->5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)-->

Reviewer #1: General:

Do not use ‘IPE’ without first introducing the abbreviation. When you mention interprofessional education for the first time, include (IPE) in parentheses.

Once you introduce the full term, continue to use IPE only throughout the manuscript.

The in-text citation style does not match the journal requirements.

Results and PRISMA diagram:

In the results section, the authors mentioned:

“Duplicates of 1,440 were eliminated through EndNote software and manual screening as well. A total of 60 unique records were revealed to be worked on.”

The PRISMA diagram does not accurately represent any of the data. The diagram shows “Records after duplicates removed (n =1500)” and ’59 articles’ were screened. Please fix these errors. Remove the highlighted colours from the PRISMA diagram.

Reviewer #2: Thank you for the opportunity to review this manuscript. It addresses an important topic-- the experiences, challenges, and enablers of interprofessional education among medical students. Unfortunately, there are numerous methodological and weaknesses that make me concerned as a reviewer about originality, rigor, and interpretability. See below for examples of my concerns.

1) There are many sentences throughout the manuscript that seem to be fragments or otherwise are incomplete or grammatically incorrect.

2) There are several places where assertions are made about the state of the literature in this field without citing sources

3) The methods section is confusing and makes statements like "a very strong methodological approach was used" but then doesn't provide the level of detail for readers to come to that conclusion themselves

4) The reasons for the search period (2014-2024) are not clear and it seems unlikely that there would be no articles meeting the criteria from the period between 2014-2018 (all of the included articles were from 2019-2024)-- one potential is that the authors selected articles to include as examples but it's not clear from the manuscript.

5) The authors describe extrapolating data that wasn't clear but do not provide a description of how they did this or examples of what types of data were extrapolated. Similarly, they describe charting trends but do not describe how they did this.

**********

-->6. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.-->

Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

**********

[NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.]

To ensure your figures meet our technical requirements, please review our figure guidelines: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures

You may also use PLOS’s free figure tool, NAAS, to help you prepare publication quality figures: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures#loc-tools-for-figure-preparation.

NAAS will assess whether your figures meet our technical requirements by comparing each figure against our figure specifications.

PLoS One. 2026 Jun 1;21(6):e0331157. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331157.r002

Author response to Decision Letter 1


9 Mar 2026

We sincerely appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions provided by you and the reviewers. We have carefully revised the manuscript to address all the concerns raised during the review process. These revisions have helped improve the clarity, methodological transparency, and overall quality of the manuscript.

Specifically, we have:

1. Expanded and clarified the Methods section, including the search strategy, eligibility criteria, and data charting procedures.

2. Ensured full adherence to PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines.

3. Corrected inconsistencies between the PRISMA flow diagram and the reported screening numbers.

4. Strengthened the Discussion section to better situate the findings within the broader interprofessional education literature.

5. Improved language clarity and corrected formatting and reference style to comply with PLOS ONE guidelines.

A detailed point-by-point response to all reviewer comments is provided in the accompanying Response to Reviewers document.

For this revision, we have submitted the following files:

1. Revised manuscript (clean version)

2. Revised manuscript with tracked changes

3. Response to reviewers document

4. Supplementary File 1 – PRISMA-ScR checklist

5. Supplementary File 2 – Full database search strategies

6. Supplementary File 3 – Data extraction/charting form

We hope that the revisions satisfactorily address the concerns raised and that the manuscript is now suitable for publication in PLOS ONE.

Attachment

Submitted filename: RESPONSE TO REVIEWERS-SCOPING REVIEW.docx

pone.0331157.s005.docx (29.9KB, docx)

Decision Letter 1

Ebtsam Abou Hashish

27 Mar 2026

-->PONE-D-25-43439R1-->-->Experiences, challenges, and enablers for promoting interprofessional education among medical students: A  scoping review-->-->PLOS One

Dear Dr. Assibi,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

Please submit your revised manuscript by  May 11 2026 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org. When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file.

Please include the following items when submitting your revised manuscript:-->

  • A letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'.

  • A marked-up copy of your manuscript that highlights changes made to the original version. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Revised Manuscript with Track Changes'.

  • An unmarked version of your revised paper without tracked changes. You should upload this as a separate file labeled 'Manuscript'.

-->

If you would like to make changes to your financial disclosure, please include your updated statement in your cover letter. Guidelines for resubmitting your figure files are available below the reviewer comments at the end of this letter.

If applicable, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io to enhance the reproducibility of your results. Protocols.io assigns your protocol its own identifier (DOI) so that it can be cited independently in the future. For instructions see: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/submission-guidelines#loc-laboratory-protocols. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option for publishing peer-reviewed Lab Protocol articles, which describe protocols hosted on protocols.io. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols.

As the corresponding author, your ORCID iD is verified in the submission system and will appear in the published article. PLOS supports the use of ORCID, and we encourage all coauthors to register for an ORCID iD and use it as well. Please encourage your coauthors to verify their ORCID iD within the submission system before final acceptance, as unverified ORCID iDs will not appear in the published article. Only the individual author can complete the verification step; PLOS staff cannot verify ORCID iDs on behalf of authors.

We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Ebtsam Aly Abou Hashish, Professor

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Journal Requirements:

1. If the reviewer comments include a recommendation to cite specific previously published works, please review and evaluate these publications to determine whether they are relevant and should be cited. There is no requirement to cite these works unless the editor has indicated otherwise.

2. Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article’s retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice.

Additional Editor Comments :

Dear Authors,

Thank you for submitting the revised version of your manuscript.

The revision shows clear improvement. The methodological framework is now transparent, the reporting aligns with PRISMA-ScR standards, and the manuscript demonstrates a coherent and well-structured synthesis. The study addresses a relevant topic and offers a useful contribution.

Required Editorial Revisions

1. Strengthen the Discussion (Priority)

The discussion is informative but remains partially descriptive.

Revise to:

Emphasize interpretation rather than repetition of results

Clearly explain what the findings mean in practice

Strengthen linkage between findings and implications

Add short, direct statements that answer:

What do these findings change?

Why do they matter?

2. Sharpen the Conclusion

The conclusion should be more focused and impactful.

Revise to:

Avoid repetition of earlier sections

Clearly state:

the main contribution

the key implication

one forward-looking insight

Keep it concise and synthesis-driven.

3. Improve Flow and Reduce Repetition

There is some redundancy across:

Results

Discussion

Revise to:

Avoid repeating the same ideas in multiple sections

Ensure each section has a distinct purpose

4. Consistency and Clarity

Please ensure:

Consistent terminology throughout the manuscript

Alignment of dates and inclusion criteria

Minor language polishing for clarity and readability

Final Note to Authors

We look forward to receiving your revised version.

[Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.]

[NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.]

To ensure your figures meet our technical requirements, please review our figure guidelines: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures

You may also use PLOS’s free figure tool, NAAS, to help you prepare publication quality figures: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/s/figures#loc-tools-for-figure-preparation.

NAAS will assess whether your figures meet our technical requirements by comparing each figure against our figure specifications.

-->

PLoS One. 2026 Jun 1;21(6):e0331157. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331157.r004

Author response to Decision Letter 2


7 Apr 2026

we have addressed all the comments raised by reviewers and have indicated that on the manuscript with tracked changes

Attachment

Submitted filename: Response To Reviewers Letter(3).docx

pone.0331157.s006.docx (17.7KB, docx)

Decision Letter 2

Ebtsam Abou Hashish

3 May 2026

Experiences, challenges, and enablers for promoting interprofessional education among medical students: A  scoping review

PONE-D-25-43439R2

Dear Dr. Maxwell Ateni Assibi

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

An invoice will be generated when your article is formally accepted. Please note, if your institution has a publishing partnership with PLOS and your article meets the relevant criteria, all or part of your publication costs will be covered. Please make sure your user information is up-to-date by logging into Editorial Manager at Editorial Manager® and clicking the ‘Update My Information' link at the top of the page. For questions related to billing, please contact billing support.

If your institution or institutions have a press office, please notify them about your upcoming paper to help maximize its impact. If they’ll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team as soon as possible -- no later than 48 hours after receiving the formal acceptance. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org.

Kind regards,

Ebtsam Aly Abou Hashish, Professor

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Thank you for submitting the revised version of your manuscript. The paper has improved significantly in response to the reviewers’ feedback.

Strengths of the manuscript include:

Clear articulation of the research gap focusing specifically on medical students rather than mixed professional groups

Appropriate use of a scoping review methodology aligned with PRISMA-ScR guidelines

Logical organization and improved flow across sections

Meaningful synthesis of findings highlighting key challenges such as role ambiguity, hierarchy, and organizational constraints

Practical implications for curriculum integration and interprofessional education design

The discussion is now more focused and better aligned with the results. The conclusion clearly reflects the core contribution, particularly the identified disconnect between positive attitudes and role understanding in interprofessional education.

The manuscript is now suitable for publication in its current form.

Congratulations to the authors on this work.

Reviewers' comments:

-

Acceptance letter

Ebtsam Abou Hashish

PONE-D-25-43439R2

PLOS One

Dear Dr. Assibi,

I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS One. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team.

At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following:

* All references, tables, and figures are properly cited

* All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission,

* There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset

You will receive further instructions from the production team, including instructions on how to review your proof when it is ready. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few days to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps.

Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org.

You will receive an invoice from PLOS for your publication fee after your manuscript has reached the completed accept phase. If you receive an email requesting payment before acceptance or for any other service, this may be a phishing scheme. Learn how to identify phishing emails and protect your accounts at https://explore.plos.org/phishing.

If we can help with anything else, please email us at customercare@plos.org.

Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access.

Kind regards,

PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff

on behalf of

Prof Ebtsam Aly Abou Hashish

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Associated Data

    This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

    Supplementary Materials

    S1 File. Checklist.

    (DOCX)

    pone.0331157.s001.docx (269.3KB, docx)
    S2 File. Search Strategy.

    (DOCX)

    pone.0331157.s002.docx (26.7KB, docx)
    S3 File. Data Extraction Sheet.

    (DOCX)

    pone.0331157.s003.docx (16.6KB, docx)
    Attachment

    Submitted filename: RESPONSE TO REVIEWERS-SCOPING REVIEW.docx

    pone.0331157.s005.docx (29.9KB, docx)
    Attachment

    Submitted filename: Response To Reviewers Letter(3).docx

    pone.0331157.s006.docx (17.7KB, docx)

    Data Availability Statement

    All data underlying the findings are fully available within the paper and its Supporting Information files.


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