Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters (SAIL): performance assessment using outpatient letters

Abstract

SAIL uses letters as a face valid indicator of written communication performance. The instrument is feasible to use, and produces reliable results when applied to paediatric registrars to inform the annual Record of In-Training Assessment (RITA). Feedback from the assessment should help doctors to improve their written communication. Its use may extend to other specialities and settings including revalidation.

GPs' views on the content and quality of psychiatrists' clinic letters

“…Exclusion criteria were emergency appointments and where the patient did not attend or cancelled the appointment. Following a literature search, we developed a data collection tool to assess letter quality, modified from the Sheffield Assessment Instrument of Letters (SAIL) , 6 which was recommended by the Royal College of Paediatrics 7 to assess the quality of paediatric trainees' letters.…”

An evidenced‐based strategy for timely delivery of clinical letters

“…A template in paediatrics exists (Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters 8 ) to measure communication of clinical letters. However, it does not look at turnaround time and it is only for trainees and is not a service measurement tool.…”

The impact of the quality of communication from nephrologists to primary care practitioners: a literature review

“…Two papers report on the development and evaluation of the Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters (SAIL) 33,39 . The instrument was primarily designed to train doctors and appraise quality practice in any specialty.…”