The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS): which factor structure?

Introduction: The Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) is used to assess the perception of one’s own profession and the relationship of that profession to others. A number of models of the IEPS exist within the literature. Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the most appropriate factor structure of the IEPS in an Australian health profession student and clinical educator population. Method: The IEPS was completed online. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation method was employed for the analysis. The data were entered into each of the 4 IEPS models identified in the literature. Result: Data did not adequately fit any of the models identified in the literature. Two of the models described in the literature appeared to be stronger than that proposed by the original IEPS authors. Conclusion: Further research using both CFA and item response theory is required to improve the psychometrics of the IEPS.