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Using the World-Wide-Web to obtain feedback on the quality of surgical residency training
1Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Background:
Resident feedback can lead to an improvement in teaching performance. Compliance with our previous rotation evaluation system has been poor.
Methods:
Rotation evaluation forms were integrated to the departmental World-Wide-Web site. Anonymously completed evaluations are automatically sent to an appointed surgery professor via electronic mail (e-mail). They are then collated and transmitted to program directors.
Results:
Ninety-two percent (24 of 26) of our surgical residents have an e-mail account. During the 2-month trial, 18 residents completed 48 evaluations. This represents a 75% (18 of 24) compliance rate among residents with e-mail capabilities. The response rate was 82% (9 of 11) for core residents, 64% (7 of 11) for third- and fourth-year residents, and 50% (2 of 4) for chiefs. A second 2-month trial yielded a 75% (18 of 24) response rate and 43 evaluations.
Conclusions:
The World-Wide-Web is a user-friendly medium suitable to obtain valuable feedback on the quality of residency training. Compliance was improved using this new system.