TeamSTEPPS |
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 2006 [32] |
Jointly developed by AHRQ and the Department of Defense, the TeamSTEPPS course consists of a series of modules focusing on team structure, communication, leadership, situation monitoring, mutual support, and other relevant topics. Phase 1 of the traditional TeamSTEPPS curriculum includes a comprehensive needs analysis for participating teams. It was originally developed for crisis or surgical teams, but more recent versions target office-based and long-term care. All modules are available online through the AHRQ website [32]. Also note that Lifewings offers TeamSTEPPS certification programs [60]. |
One two-part study featuring the long-term care version [55, 63], and five additional studies featuring adaptations of the traditional TeamSTEPPS curriculum for similar outpatient/ambulatory settings [33–35, 46, 54] |
CONNECT |
Anderson et al., 2012 [64] |
“CONNECT is a multi-component intervention that helps staff: learn new strategies to improve day-to-day interactions; establish relationship networks for creative problem solving; and sustain newly acquired interaction behaviors through mentorship” ([64], page 2). It relies on a series of learning sessions and activities conducted in nursing homes over 12 weeks, with an ultimate goal of reducing the incidence of patient falls through improved problem-solving and interaction patterns. |
One published study [40], with a larger trial currently underway in 24 facilities |
The Arthritis Program - Interprofessional Training Program (TAP-ITP) |
Bain, 2014 [53] |
TAP-ITP is meant to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes around interprofessional care. It includes four individual modules that can be delivered in a classroom setting or blended setting (classroom plus online). Support includes learning resources, blogs, discussion boards, and learning portfolios, and it emphasizes an Action-Based Research perspective (with trainees expected to spend time collaborating with one another between modules). |
One study [53] |
Teams of Interprofessional Staff (TIPS) |
Bajnok et al., 2012 [47] |
The TIPS training consists of three, 2-day training workshops conducted over 8 months. These workshops include didactics on topics such as developing team culture; conflict resolution; and having difficult conversations. Workshops also involve application of team development strategies, as well as assignment of a mentor/advisor to each team to assist with selection and pursuit of shared team goals. |
One study [47] |
Team training programme (no formal title provided) |
Bunnell et al., 2013 [31] |
This program was designed to improve team functioning for outpatient oncology teams using a train-the-trainer model. The 2-hour training session includes general presentation of teamwork principles and supporting evidence, as well as specific interventions related to building teamwork in outpatient oncology settings. |
One study [31] |
Team training (no formal name provided) |
Cashman et al., 2004 [44] |
Team training consists of five formal team training workshops conducted over 2-year period, with concurrent increase in regular team meeting times (from 1 h every 4 weeks, to 3 h every 4 weeks). Training topics include stages of group development; personality and work styles; general team-building issues (e.g. related to staffing and turnover); problem-solving; and leadership. Simulations were used to illustrate group processes, and SYMLOG assessment [65] was used to guide discussion. |
One study [44] |
“3-M” Team Training |
Cooley, 1994 [39] |
Team training conducted at three workshops (2 h each), conducted 3–4 weeks apart. Workshops included presentations of teamwork concepts, modeling, written practice, role-playing, and analysis of videotaped team meetings. The “3-M” label denotes an organizing framework for the training in “Mapping” skills (to enhance productivity of team meetings); “Mirroring” skills (to enhance communication); and “Mining and refining” skills (to enhance problem-solving capability). |
One study [39] |
Resource for Education, Audit, and Teamworking (CREATE) |
Haycock-Stuart & Houston, 2005 [41] |
Team training consists of a series of nine workshops conducted over a 1-year period, oriented around improving primary care teamwork in Scotland. Workshop topics were determined by needs assessment, and included both teamwork-oriented (e.g. communication and planning) and administratively-focused topics (e.g. accreditation issues, appraisal systems, and service redesign). |
One study [41] |
Expanded Learning and Dedication to Elders in the Region (ELDER) |
Lange et al., 2011 [42] |
The ELDER project was adapted from the Hartford Foundation’s work [66], and features small-group interactive workshops oriented around interdisciplinary teamworking in the care of older patients. The 3-year project featured approximately 12 educational sessions to be presented to nursing staff in Year 1, an additional six 1-hour sessions to be presented in Year 2, and the additional of simulated patient scenarios in Year 3. |
Two studies focused on the implementation of ELDER itself [42, 49], while a third focused on addition of simulation training to the core ELDER curriculum [36]. All three studies were conducted on the same sample. |
Training based on the Toronto Framework |
Pilon et al., 2015 [20] |
The Toronto Framework focuses on three competency domains (Values/Ethics, Communication, Coordination) built over three phases (Exposure, Immersion, Competency). The exposure phase is achieved via a 2-day team retreat, informed by a previously-completed self-assessment. The Immersion phase consists of ongoing team meetings focused on complex case studies; Competency is assessed at repeated team retreats conducted every 6 months. |
One study [20] |
Interdisciplinary Management Tool (IMT) |
Smith et al., 2012 [67] |
Developed via research on British intermediate care teams, the IMT is described in detail in a publicly available three-part workbook. Part 1 describes an evidence-based, structured organizational development intervention designed to improve teamwork over a 6-month period with the help of a facilitator. This is ideally accomplished via an initial 1-day workshop and evaluation session, followed by recurring half- to full-day team learning sessions every 2 months (for a total of 3.5 workshop days). Part 2 contains a set of exercises to be completed at the individual and team level, as well as follow-up summaries of relevant research evidence. Part 3 consists of assessment instruments to measure team functioning at the staff and patient levels. |
Two studies [52, 68] conducted on same sample |
Triad for Optimal Patient Safety (TOPS) |
Sehgal et al., 2008 [43] |
TOPS involves development of a 4-hour teamwork training program for staff on an inpatient unit combining didactics, facilitated discussion of a safety trigger video, and small-group exercises to enhance communication skills and team behaviors. |
Three studies [37, 38, 43] conducted on same sample |
Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training (GITT) |
Siegler, 1998 [66] |
The GITT initiative was launched by the John A. Hartford Foundation in 1995, and has continued to inform team-building interventions into the twenty-first century. Programs funded through this initiative were given broad latitude in how specifically to format their team-building interventions, but typically feature a clinical/academic partnership (meaning that some GITT studies have focused on medicine, nursing, or social work studies, while others have focused on intact, enduring clinical teams). |
One study focused on intact clinical teams [56], although other studies (e.g. [69]) have presented results for medicine, nursing, and social work trainees (rather than intact clinical teams) |
Rehabilitation team training (no formal title provided) |
Stevens et al., 2007 [70] |
This team training for leaders of rehabilitation teams consists of three phases: “(1) general skills training in team-process (e.g., team effectiveness and problem-solving strategies), (2) informational feedback (e.g., action plans to address team-process problems and a summary of team-functioning characteristics as reported by rehabilitation staff), and (3) telephone and videoconference consultation (e.g., advice on implementation of action plans and facilitation of team-process skills).” The skills training (Phase 1) is conducted in the form of a 2.5-day workshop, and the action plans (Phase 2) provide feedback to participants based on completion of a 67-item pre-training survey. Consultation (Phase 3) consisted of a single group phone or video call conducted 2–3 months post-training. These training activities are all meant to be conducted with team leaders, with the team leaders then working with clinical teams to complete the Phase 2 action plans. |
Two studies [45, 70] conducted on same sample |