Outdoor-based leadership training and group development of family practice interns

Current trends in health care demand expanded competencies for future physicians, including group process skills that traditional medical curricula rarely address. One approach to enhancing group dynamics and teaching teamwork skills is outdoor-based experiential learning. This study examines the effect of an outdoor-based learning intervention on family practice interns' group problem solving, team building, and communication.

Two of 13 programs in the University of Washington Family Practice Residency Network included structured, outdoor-based experimental leadership training during intern orientation. The other 11 programs served as controls. Within 1 month following orientation, surveys were sent to all University of Washington Network interns. Respondents completed 27 questions designed to assess perceptions of trust, group awareness, group problem solving, group effectiveness, and interpersonal communication within an intern class.

The survey response rate was 85%. Study and control groups were not significantly different with respect to age or gender. The study group scored higher on all individual questions and variables, with statistically significant differences on 10 questions and three variables.

Experiential, outdoor-based leadership training may positively influence intern class group formation and development. Experiential training early in residency may reduce intern stress by accelerating intra-class relationships and may represent a foundation on which to build effective group process curricula for residents.