Interprofessional Learning and Simulation Versus Traditional Course on Healthy Aging: a Randomized Control Trial

Design: this is a randomized, controlled study. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to intervention group (IPSE) or control group (traditional course) in a 1:1 ratio. The investigator will use a block size of four with no stratification: for each block of 4 students, a different random ordering of 2 assignments to each treatment will be produced. A table of random numbers will be used to produce 2 randomization lists: one for nursing students and one for medical students.

Setting and participants: the study will be performed at the Università del Piemonte Orientale (Italy). In this study, second-year student volunteers from the Nursing School and fourth and fifth-year student volunteers from the School of Medicine will be recruited through an information session.

Intervention: IPSE program is divided in two phases: 1) a self-study course will be offered about lifestyle modification, 2) four different learning methods: didactic lecture, role playing, standardized patient and a new immersive advanced simulation learning environment will be provided.

Data collection: demographic data (gender, age, education) will be gathered to obtain a basic profile of participants prior to allocation. Before the randomization and after the completion of the program, each participant will complete the evaluation session.

Sample size calculation: a minimal total study sample size of 60 (24 nursing and 36 medical students) would be required to provide 80% power to reject the null hypothesis that no difference existed between the two research arms in NAS/PAS score, with a two-sided type 1 error of 5%. To balance the sample size of the two groups, the investigator decided to recruit the same number of nursing and medical students: 36 participants for each group. With a 10% allowance for students lost at follow up, a sample size of 80 students would be required and will be used.