Abstract
Purpose
New physicians need to master non-technical skills (NTS), as high levels of NTS have been shown to increase patient safety. It has also been shown that NTS can be improved through training. This study aimed to establish the necessary NTS for Norwegian medical students to create a tool for formative and summative assessments.
Methods
Focus group interviews were conducted with colleagues and patients of newly graduated physicians. Interviews were then analyzed using card sort methods, and the identified NTS were used to establish a framework. Focus groups commented on a prototype of an NTS assessment tool. Finally, we conducted a search of existing tools and literature. The final tool was developed based on the combined inputs.
Results
We created Norwegian medical students’ non-technical skills (NorMS-NTS) assessment tool containing four main categories; together comprising 13 elements and a rating scale for the NTS of the person observed.
Conclusions
The NorMS-NTS represents a purpose-made tool for assessing newly graduated physicians’ NTS. It is similar to existing assessment tools but based on domain-specific user perspectives obtained through focus group interviews and feedback, integrated with results from a literature search, and with consideration of existing NTS tools.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Glossary
NTS: Non-technical skills.
NorMS-NTS: Norwegian Medical Students Non-Technical-Skills.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Katrine Prydz
Katrine Prydz, MD, is a specialist in general practice and a PhD candidate at Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Hammerfest, Norway.
Peter Dieckmann
Peter Dieckmann, PhD, Psychologist and Senior Scientist at Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES). His research on simulation addresses the theoretical foundations and practice of using simulation to create, recognize and use learning opportunities for simulation learners and faculty members in different context. Peters research with simulation focuses to explore simulation’s possibilities to optimize worksystems. Beyond simulation, Peter investigates issues of the practice of patient safety work, psychological safety, medication safety, and visual research methods.
David Musson
David Musson, MD, PhD, currently is an Associate Professor at McMaster university and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. He does research in space medicine, decision support, human factors, expert systems, applied social psychology, and medical training.
Torben Wisborg
Torben Wisborg, MD, PhD, is a professor of anesthesia and consultant anesthetist. He is also research director for the Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Trauma. He did his PhD on trauma team training based on 10 years of experience training trauma teams in Norway and northern Iraq. Main research interests are trauma systems, trauma teams and trauma team training, including simulation.