Table 2 General taxonomy of situations occurring during bedside encounters triggering team-based reflection (n= 47 total coding references)

A patient who was emotional about his/her disease or prognosis.

A patient who was anxious or uncomfortable about his/her diagnosis or bedside event.

A patient who didn’t seem happy with the whole group coming to the bedside.

A patient who didn’t seem to want to answer any questions in front of the team.

A patient who seemed angry about an issue/event.

A combative/“difficult” patient.

Social aspects of the patient’s case explaining what is going on.

Patient with “excruciating pain” but wearing make-up/eyeliner.

Patient’s understanding of disease process/hospitalization.

Patient’s response to breaking of bad news.

Team’s incorrect diagnosis on a newly admitted patient.

Initial bedside encounters for trainees new to the activity.

Resident or team not acquiring an adequate history, resulting in missed diagnoses.

Resident or team communicating the diagnosis of a new cancer to the patient.

Resident or team communicating “bad news” to a patient.

Resident or team response to a hostile family member.

Resident or team demonstration of patient-centered communication skills.

Team’s feelings regarding consulting specialist’s recommendations.

Team’s feelings regarding event occurring at the bedside (e.g. encountering a difficult patient).

Attending physician “setting limits” and “sticking to his guns” with a patient who acts out.

Attending physicians clinical reasoning demonstrated at bedside.

Attending physician’s communication skills at bedside, what went well and did not go well.

Attending physician’s bedside demonstration of counseling a patient about his/her disease.