A version of the MSF form is available in a Word document.

This tool provides a sample of attitudes and opinions of colleagues on the clinical performance and professional behaviour of the GP registrar (GPStR) and helps to provide data for reflection on performance and gives useful feedback for self-evaluation.

MSF will take place as follows:

• During months 5 or 6 (Specialty Training Year 1) and then 2 to 4 months later;
• 5 clinicians completing both questions.


• During months 28 or 29 or 30 (Specialty Training Year 3) and then 2 to 4 months later;
• 5 clinicians completing both questions and 5 non-clinicians completing question 1.
  
  

Process: Obtaining Feedback (using the MSF tool)

1. GPStR and trainer should agree a date for the MSF and a date for the GPStR and Educational Supervisor or GP Trainer or Clinical Supervisor to discuss the feedback generated by the MSF. It is important that protected time is set aside for the interview, which will be held after the closing date for responses.


2. GPStR selects 5 clinicians, mainly GPs when in primary care and 5 clinicians with different job titles when in secondary care.


3. GPStR gives all respondents the instruction letter which explains the process and gives details of how to input, and the closing date by which their feedback should be given.


4. Respondents connect to internet and log onto www.eportfolio.rcgp.org.uk/forms (accessible from August 2007), giving name and GMC number of the registrar. They will use a 7 point grade and enter feedback comments in two free text boxes. Clinicians will answer both questions. Non-clinicians answer just question 1.


5. To ensure that a range of colleagues / members of staff have completed the GP registrar's MSF, the Educational Supervisor or GP trainer is required to:


be aware of which colleagues / staff members the GPR invited to complete the MSF verify with a sample of colleagues / staff members that they did indeed contribute to the MSF. It is important however that when checking that colleagues or staff had contributed, that the educational supervisor or GP trainer is not made aware of any details of their entry to the MSF declare the above to the Deanery.

Process: Using Feedback (how the MSF feedback will be generated and used)

1. The results will be anonymous.


2. On the closing date the results will be sent to the Educational Supervisor.


3. Results will show the free text comments and the breakdown of scores. There will also be information on the mean, median and range of scores.


4. The Educational Supervisor then authorises the results of the trainee to become available within the ePortfolio of the trainee, and therefore visible to the GP trainer.


5. The GP Trainer or Educational Supervisor should try and assimilate the numerical scores and free text comments within the context of the trainee’s overall performance to date.


6. The interview should be conducted in protected time with no interruptions. Different individuals may require different lengths of time for reflection. It may be necessary to schedule the feedback for more than one occasion in order to make best use of data. The interviewer should ensure that the GPStR understands the background to the use and purpose of the MSF tool.


7. The interviewer’s skill in feedback will be vital to this process.


8. The data will include the mean, median and range of scores. Discussion should centre around the GPStR’s expectations in relation to these scores.


9. In order to evaluate and record the success or otherwise of the feedback process, it is suggested that the Professional Conversation log in the Education Section of the ePortfolio is used.


10. If the interviewer has any areas of serious concern regarding either the content of the assessment or anticipated difficulties in giving feedback he/she should contact their local course organiser/associate adviser for further discussion prior to interview.


11. The second MSF should take place two to four months after the first. This will be soon after the interview for the first.