An analysis of multisource feedback within the foundation programme

Multisource feedback (MSF) is a mandatory assessment in the foundation programme. The current tool that is used is the validated Team Assessment of Behaviour (TAB). This assesses doctors on four domains: maintaining trust and professional relations; verbal communication skills; teamworking; and accessibility. The aims of our retrospective analysis were to analyse the number of doctors who had an MSF with any type of concern, and to assess if there is any relationship between the number of MSFs submitted and the number of concerns and the staff group.

Data were obtained from the e-portfolio Malta database. The anonymized MSFs for the doctors in the foundation programme (FP) in Malta between July 2009 and July 2010 were analysed.

A total of 1868 MSF assessments from 83 FP doctors (50 foundation year-1 doctors, FY1s, and 33 FY2s) were analysed. Fifty-two FY doctors were female. The majority of assessments (97.86%) did not show any concern in any of the four domains. However, at least one concern was raised for 21.7 percent of the doctors (12 FY1s and 6 FY2s). The chance of there being a concern reported was statistically significantly higher when the MSF was completed by a more senior doctor, rather than by an FY doctor or a nurse (p = 0.016).

The aim of the MSF tool is to collate the views from a range of clinical colleagues in order to assess trainee performance. In our opinion, besides indicating when the MSFs should be performed and the minimum number that need to be submitted, it should also be mandatory that a certain proportion of MSFs should be performed by specific people (e.g. by a clinical supervisor, basic specialist trainee or higher specialist trainee working with the team).