Table 1

Overview of categories, dimensions and items, with definitions and examples and the descriptive results

		ED				ICU
		Baseline (n=179)		Follow-up (n=199)		Baseline (n=179)		Follow-up (n=199)
Categories, dimensions and items	Definitions of the categories and dimensions and examples of the items	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Overall EPOC score	All verbal expressions taken together	1439	100	1887	100	22979	100	20854	100
Self category	Expressing non-technical skills in relation to oneself	11	0.74	4	0.21	136	0.59	210	1.01
1. Assertiveness	Takes action on his/her own accord; stands up for him/herself
Expresses concerns	‘I'm not sure that this is going to end well’	4	0.27	2	0.11	97	0.42	197	0.94
Speaks up even when faced with resistance	‘I already said that I was too fatigued for these tasks’	7	0.47	2	0.11	29	0.13	13	0.06
Speaks up aggressively (–)*	‘I am fed up with it!’	1	0.07	0	0.00	10	0.04	0	0
Neglects others (–)*		1	0.07	0	0.00
Human interaction category	Expressing non-technical skills in relation to others	1300	87.07	1760	93.27	21637	94.16	18746	89.89
2. Working with others	Takes initiative and remains an active part of the team; interacts with others	726	48.63	1062	56.28	18639	81.11	15699	75.28
Reacts to suggestions from others†	‘Yes, you are right’					2317	10.08	2393	11.48
Asks others for contributions	‘Does the medicine cabinet need refilling?’	24	1.61	12	0.64	2213	9.63	2055	9.85
Gives suggestions	‘Shall we turn her on her left side?’	52	3.48	38	2.01	2441	10.62	2112	10.13
Confirms task	‘Yes, I will do that’	196	13.13	357	18.92	2390	10.40	1198	5.74
Repeats task†	‘Yes, I will lower the bed’					188	0.82	204	0.98
Asks for confirmation about information†	‘Did you understand what I just said?’					457	1.99	453	2.17
Asks for confirmation about tasks	‘Do you know what you have to do?’	238	15.94	465	24.64	340	1.48	266	1.28
Tells others what he/she is going to do	‘I am going to prepare patient X for transfer’	144	9.65	142	7.53	1106	4.84	1150	5.51
Asks ‘follow-up’ questions for clarification†	‘What do you mean by that?’					1031	4.49	801	3.84
Gives contributions†	Saying something without an explicit cause, like a question					2819	12.27	2367	11.35
Answers a question†	In answer to a question about the result of a test: ‘It was negative’					3058	13.31	2253	10.8
Checks the correctness of the information	‘So the patient received 200 ml you said?’	60	4.02	41	2.17	279	1.21	447	2.14
Demonstrates self-control in the case of errors		0	0.00	2	0.11
Takes part in decision making		12	0.80	5	0.26
3. Task-oriented leadership	Plan and organise the crew's tasks	151	10.11	83	4.40	1576	6.86	1193	5.72
Coordinates tasks	‘You are going to wash this patient’	13	0.87	3	0.16	717	3.12	416	1.99
Checks and corrects tasks	‘I said 5 ml, but you gave 50 ml’	66	4.42	27	1.43	295	1.28	337	1.62
Uses authority	‘I'm the physician, so I will make that call’	0	0.00	0	0.00	5	0.02	3	0.01
Gives instructions, coaches	‘It is more comfortable for the patient if you do it this way’	72	4.82	53	2.81	559	2.43	437	2.10
4. People-oriented leadership	Motivate and encourage crew cooperation for performing tasks	423	28.33	615	32.59	1422	6.19	1854	8.89
Provides support and shows appreciation	‘You have done this perfectly!’	21	1.41	13	0.69	336	1.46	425	2.04
Gives others space	A senior to a junior: ‘Do you want to add anything else?’	1	0.07	1	0.05	38	0.17	64	0.31
Shows that one is listening	When someone else is talking: ‘Yes’	394	26.39	599	31.74	1048	4.56	1365	6.55
Appreciate suggestions		7	0.47	2	0.11
Environment category	Expressing non-technical skills in relation to the environment and the situation	182	12.19	123	6.52	1206	5.25	1898	9.10
5. Situation awareness	Be aware of the operational situation based on relevant factors	84	5.63	58	3.07	99	0.43	296	1.42
Names environmental factors that influence the situation	‘The constant ringing of the phone distracts me’	6	0.40	0	0.00	57	0.25	148	0.71
Takes action based on these environmental factors	‘I'm leaving the receiver off the hook’	0	0.00	0	0.00	4	0.02	4	0.02
Keeps an overview of all the patients	While treating patient X: ‘How is patient Y doing?’	78	5.22	58	3.07	38	0.17	144	0.69
6. Planning and anticipation	Plan and structure actions	98	6.56	65	3.44	1107	4.82	1602	7.68
Discusses expectations that can influence the situation	‘It is likely that another patient will be admitted to the unit today’	12	0.80	6	0.32	141	0.61	232	1.11
Specifies goal	‘The aim is to transfer this patient to the ward today’	1	0.07	0	0.00	56	0.24	176	0.84
Indicates priorities	‘There has to be a bed available before we can admit a new patient’	6	0.40	7	0.37	71	0.31	94	0.45
Indicates what has to be done	‘This bed has to be lowered’	71	4.76	49	2.60	41	0.18	59	0.28
Adjusts the plan if necessary	‘The aim was to use treatment X, but seeing the condition of this patient, treatment Y is better’	8	0.54	3	0.16	798	3.47	1041	4.99

Note: Contact author for the extensive EPOC handbook.
*Results of negative items are not part of the sum score of the dimensions and categories.
†Added verbal behaviours that were not part of the preliminary version of the EPOC that was used in the ED study.
ED, emergency department; EPOC, explicit professional oral communication; ICU, intensive care unit.