Measuring adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in (becoming) healthcare professionals: a scoping review of measurement instruments

Abstract

Professional work in healthcare is increasingly disruptive, requiring professionals to be flexible and adaptable. Research on adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in healthcare has grown, and operationalisation and measurement of these concepts are crucial to meet professionals' evolving needs. This study provides an overview of measurement instruments for adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in (becoming) healthcare professionals, including an evaluation of their operationalisations and the amount of evidence supporting their quality. A scoping review was conducted, including an analysis of operationalisations and the amount of evidence supporting the quality of instruments, based on the criteria outlined in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (2014). Seventeen articles were included, comprising nineteen measurement instruments, three of which were specifically developed for the healthcare domain. The instruments, categorized into six types, varied in the nature and volume of evidence supporting their quality. Analysis of the operationalisations led to a clearer understanding of the concepts, with themes emerging around adaptive expertise and adaptive performance. The study reveals a dominance of self-evaluation and job requirement instruments, while other methods, such as design scenarios, mixed-methods instruments, and collegial verbalization, are underrepresented. Instruments developed specifically for healthcare need further validation and reliability testing. The categorization of subscales into 13 themes provides further clarification of the concepts and suggestions for future research. Instruments to measure adaptive expertise and adaptive performance are limited and vary in conceptualisation, operationalisation and quality. Further research is needed to improve the validity and reliability of healthcare-specific instruments.