title: A Systematic Review of Tools Used to Assess Team Leadership in Health Care Action Teams.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the characteristics of tools used to assess leadership in health care action (HCA) teams. HCA teams are interdisciplinary teams performing complex, critical tasks under high-pressure conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases, key journals, and review articles published through March 2012 for English-language articles that applied leadership assessment tools to HCA teams in all specialties. Pairs of reviewers assessed identified articles for inclusion and exclusion criteria and abstracted data on study characteristics, tool characteristics, and validity evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 9,913 abstracts screened, 83 studies were included. They described 61 team leadership assessment tools. Forty-nine tools (80%) provided behaviors, skills, or characteristics to define leadership. Forty-four tools (72%) assessed leadership as one component of a larger assessment, 13 tools (21%) identified leadership as the primary focus of the assessment, and 4 (7%) assessed leadership style. Fifty-three studies (64%) assessed leadership at the team level; 29 (35%) did so at the individual level. Assessments of simulated (n = 55) and live (n = 30) patient care events were performed. Validity evidence included content validity (n = 75), internal structure (n = 61), relationship to other variables (n = 44), and response process (n = 15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leadership assessment tools applied to HCA teams are heterogeneous in content and application. Comparisons between tools are limited by study variability. A systematic approach to team leadership tool development, evaluation, and implementation will strengthen understanding of this important competency.
authors.affiliation: E.D. Rosenman is acting assistant professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.J.S. Ilgen is assistant professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.J.R. Shandro is associate professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.A.L. Harper is associate librarian, Health Sciences Library, University of Washington Library Services, Seattle, Washington.R. Fernandez is associate professor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rosenman
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ilgen
authors.forename: Jamie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shandro
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernandez
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D010348:Patient Care Team