Multi-Source Feedback (MSF)

Colleague Feedback is a process in which colleagues give you feedback on how they perceive you work with them. It looks at a number of attributes applicable to all doctors rather than your individual clinical skills and knowledge. The feedback is usually obtained using an anonymous questionnaire.

Colleague Feedback is often referred to as Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) or 360 degree feedback.

The purpose of MSF is to provide you with an opportunity to reflect on the feedback received and to compare it with your own self-assessment. It is hoped that this will reinforce good practice and provide opportunities for development. The feedback can provide information about important qualities you demonstrate as a doctor, such as integrity, respect and the ability to communicate and work as a team member, and how these are perceived by those you work with.

The doctor seeking feedback (you) invites colleagues to complete a short questionnaire. Colleagues are selected from those with whom you work on a regular basis and from across your practice. For example other doctors, nursing colleagues, administrative staff, managerial staff, allied health professionals, other health professionals and reception staff.

In most systems, including the NES MSF tool and the GMC Colleague Questionnaire, the doctor also completes a self assessment questionnaire. In most systems the questionnaire includes questions with a scale and space for free text comments.

The results are then collated and a summary report is provided to the doctor. (The NES MSF web based system does this electronically). You are encouraged to reflect on:

• the report;
• any differences in the scores you gave yourself and the average scores given by others;
• any areas highlighted as particular strengths; and
• any areas where development or change might be required.

Research suggests that if enough colleagues participate, then the scores will be consistent across different "raters". This applies whether you selected the raters or the raters are selected for you.

However, individual people may see you differently and may score you differently. Some may work with you in different settings. Some raters will work closely with you in a clinical setting; others may only see you at the beginning and end of sessions or clinics to debrief on the administration. Free text comments are one individual's view and this should be borne in mind when looking at the results.

Most MSF systems recommend that you discuss your results formally with someone within a few days of receiving them. This could be a trusted colleague, an appraiser or any other trained facilitator. The reasons for this are that it can be very helpful to talk through the results; fresh insights and understanding may come from this. The feedback may also generate powerful feelings in the recipient which he/she may benefit from exploring with another person.