title: Improved climate, culture, and communication through multidisciplinary training and instruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of multidisciplinary team training on organizational culture and team communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  The training included a 6-step protocol: (1) a pretest survey assessing cultural attitudes and perceptions, (2) a baseline high-fidelity simulation session, (3) invitational medical rhetoric instruction, (4) a second high-fidelity simulation session, (5) a posttest survey assessing changed cultural attitudes and perceptions, and (6) a debriefing with participants. Teams of 4 physicians trained together: 2 obstetricians and 2 anesthesiologists. Forty-four physicians completed the training protocol during 2010 and 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paired-sample t tests demonstrated significant decreases in autonomous cultural attitudes and perceptions (t = 8.23, P < .001) and significant increases in teamwork cultural attitudes and perceptions (t = -4.05, P < .001). Paired-sample t tests also demonstrated significant increases in communication climate that invited participation and integrated information from both medical services (t = -5.80, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multidisciplinary team training program specified in this report resulted in increased teamwork among obstetricians and anesthesiologists.
authors: School of Communication, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. kirschbaumk@ecu.edu
authors: Kristin A
authors: KA
authors: Kirschbaum
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Rask
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Brennan
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Phelan
authors: Sally A
authors: SA
authors: Fortner
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D003142:Communication; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010348:Patient Care Team