Overview of Multi Source Feedback Msf
Medical education is always on the lookout for incorporating the best possible teaching, learning and assessment techniques to produce the most competent health professional who would be capable of addressing the health issues as well as the social issues pertaining to patients. In doing so, evaluations or assessments would be playing a major role and one of the new concepts that have emerged in the recent past is the multi-source feedback (MSF) method or the 360 degree assessments.
What is multi-source feedback assessment?
An MSF assessment would be the process of deriving feedback or information from several sources which can include colleagues, co-workers, patients as well as from the person whom is assessed using a structured questionnaire. The responses will be handed over to a supervisor or to the assessor by these individuals confidently and the feedback can then be used to identify areas of weaknesses, strengths, competencies…etc which can be used by the assessed to formulate an action plan to improve or for any other purpose. It is therefore can be used for both summative and formative type of assessments although formative use of MSF is probably seen more often.
In the MSF, obtaining a self evaluated feedback from the assessed doctor himself would be one of the most important pieces of information as it can compare the general perception of the doctor with the feedback received from the others whom are working alongside or else receiving the services of the said doctor.
When is it used for?
The multi source feedback is often used for revalidation process or else for continuous professional development programmes and had often indicated that it can be an accurate tool in assessing certain competencies which may not be assessed adequately through other means of assessment.
What does it assess?
According to researchers, the MSF is ideal to assess communication skills, interpersonal relationships between the target doctors and their team as well as professionalism. When looking at these competencies and skills, it is obvious that unless these are assessed in the day to day clinical practice through non-bias means, it will be nearly impossible to achieve.
How is it implemented?
When such programmes are implemented, it is vital that the process receives unconditional support from all who are concerned and that everyone knows their role in giving the feedback. Thus, they should be educated in relation to the necessity of obtaining a truthful feedback, its importance to the person whom is assessed, as well as for the society, along with the benefit it brings in building teamwork within a health care setting.
