The effects of group dynamics on resident progress committee deliberations.
BACKGROUND
Prior investigations suggest that resident progress decisions by committee provide a broader perspective on performance and result in less grade inflation. There is countervailing concern that group dynamics may compromise quality of progress decisions.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether and how group dynamics compromise decision making about resident progress.


METHODS
Researchers recorded and analyzed participant comments during a resident progress committee meeting. End-of-rotation (EOR) evaluations were analyzed and compared to progress committee meeting results.


RESULTS
EOR and progress committee comments were similar in content. The ratio of specific to general comments was higher for EOR evaluations (5:1) than for progress committee meetings (2:1). EOR evaluation comments provided more supporting evidence for assertions. Individual progress committee participants did not dominate discussion or sway decision making. Participant progress committee meeting comments were consistent with their EOR comments failing to support the presence of progress committee meeting "feeding frenzies."


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that progress committee meeting group dynamics do not seriously compromise the validity of resident progress decisions.
Williams
Reed G
RG
Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9638, USA. rwilliams@siumed.edu
Schwind
Cathy J
CJ
Dunnington
Gary L
GL
Fortune
John
J
Rogers
David
D
Boehler
Margaret
M
D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital