Measuring Multidisciplinary Team Effectiveness in a Ward-Based Healthcare Setting: Development of the Team Functioning Assessment Tool

Abstract

Nontechnical skills relating to team functioning are vital to the effective delivery of patient care and safety. In this study, we develop a reliable behavioral marker tool for assessing nontechnical skills that are critical to the success of ward-based multidisciplinary healthcare teams. The Team Functioning Assessment Tool (TFAT) was developed and refined using a literature review, focus groups, card-sorting exercise, field observations, and final questionnaire evaluation and refinement process. Results demonstrated that Clinical Planning, Executive Tasks, and Team Relations are important facets of effective multidisciplinary healthcare team functioning. The TFAT was also shown to yield acceptable inter-rater agreement.

Measuring Ward-Based Multidisciplinary Healthcare Team Functioning: A Validation Study of the Team Functioning Assessment Tool (TFAT)

“…This research was conducted as part of a larger program of research into team effectiveness which involved a comprehensive approach to ethical approval described in full elsewhere (Sutton, et al, ). As part of this process, written informed consent was obtained at the following levels: district head, hospital administrator (CEO/medical superintendent/executive director), hospital divisional medical and nursing directors, departmental allied health directors; and all members of participating MDHTs.…”

“…Observational ratings of team functioning were measured using the 61‐item version of the TFAT (Sutton et al, ). Each team behavior was rated on a 7‐point behaviorally anchored rating scale, ranging from 1 ( Very poor—Performance on behavioral exemplar item clearly unacceptable with counterproductive behaviors that have negative outcomes or consequences ) to 7 ( Excellent—performance on behavioral exemplar item demonstrates mastery and could be used as a positive example or role model for others ).…”

“…The team functioning assessment tool (TFAT) is one tool that has been developed to assess the nontechnical skills of multidisciplinary teams within a ward‐based hospital environment (Sutton, Liao, Jimmieson, & Restubog, ). The TFAT is based on a taxonomy of behaviors depicting the characteristics of high‐performing ward‐based multidisciplinary healthcare teams (MDHT).…”

“…The TFAT isolates critical skills and behaviors for effective team performance (Fletcher et al, ; Sutton et al, ), and establishes a common language for defining team effectiveness. Intended to be used by trained observers for evaluating the nontechnical skills of MDHTs, the TFAT is designed to evaluate team functioning as defined by three core categories of Clinical Planning, Executive Tasks, and Team Relations.…”

Synergism in Perioperative Services

“…Consequences related to patients include optimal patient safety, optimal surgical outcomes, and patient satisfaction . Consequences related to employees are associated with high employee satisfaction . Organizational consequences include high net revenue and a greater likelihood of meeting or exceeding national surgical outcomes, measures, and standards …”