Exploring Teamwork Dynamics in Medicine Clerkship

Background: Medical students collaborate with one another, during problem based learning sessions and clerkships. Teamwork has three components; input, process and outcome. Team Objectively Structured Bed side Assessment (TOSBA) is a tool used in clerkships to assess the outcome of team work. Team dynamics have not been previously elaborated. In the present study team dynamics will be explored using examiner observations in TOSBA as a reference. Aim: To explore the teamwork dynamics in settings of TOSBA among final year medical students during their clerkship rotation to medical wards, taking examiner observations of TOSBA as a reference. Methods: A qualitative study using focus groups and purposive sampling. Perceived team dynamics among these students were compared to the observed dynamics by examiners in the earlier settings of TOSBA. Results: Three themes; factors positively affecting the negatively influencing the team dynamics and suggestions to improve team dynamics were generated. Team dynamics were negatively influenced by social loafing and Belbin role as a shaper or team’s worker. Role of mutual trust and pre-tasking to enhance team dynamics needs exploration. Conclusion: Many factors affect the team dynamics during TOSBA. Social loafing, mutual respect and pre-tasking are new themes that require further elaboration.