Long-term effects of teamwork training on communication and teamwork climate in ambulatory reproductive health care

We previously reported an association between team training in the ambulatory setting and improvements in team climate at 6 and 12 months, but it is unknown whether improvements persist at 2 years.

From 2014 to 2015, we enrolled 20 organizations, each operating a varying number of health centers, into a teamwork training initiative. We evaluated teamwork outcomes at baseline and 2 years using a communication behaviors assessment, the TeamSTEPPS^® Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire (T-TPQ), and the Patients' Insights and Views of Teamwork (PIVOT) survey.

At 2 years, use of TeamSTEPPS^® tools and strategies remained increased compared to baseline at many health centers; results ranged from 32% of centers reporting increased use of pauses to identify the patient to 91% reporting increased use of standardized language. Staff T-TPQ responses indicated that TeamSTEPPS^® implementation was associated with improved perceptions of teamwork in approximately half (49%) of statements at 2 years. Significant improvements occurred in over half of PIVOT survey statements, and patient satisfaction was significantly greater at 2 years compared to baseline.

Patient and staff views of teamwork were significantly improved 2 years after TeamSTEPPS^® implementation in ambulatory reproductive health care centers, demonstrating positive long-term effects of teamwork training.