The Health Sciences and Practice Subject Network applauds this guide as a timely addition to the growing literature on interprofessional education which has been given relatively recent emphasis in health and social work education in the UK. It is clear that there is a need for rigorous evaluation to determine the most effective methods for educational practice. Most educators do not have the time to delve into educational literature over and above their subject literature. A practical guide is therefore greatly welcomed. The guide also contains a glossary, which is an important feature especially in IPE where different disciplines use different terms. One of the barriers to IPE is that of the language used which this feature will help to overcome. Although the guide is set in the context of health and social care much of it is sufficiently generic to be of interest to people working in other fields of educational evaluation. In addition it is reassuringly realistic, as the authors try to ‘distinguish between the counsel of perfection and demands of reality in a busy teaching post’. We trust it will help us strengthen the evidence base of interprofessional education.
Professor Catherine Geissler, Director, Health Sciences and Practice Subject Network, The Higher Education Academy