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A comparison between different formats of educational feedback to junior doctors: a prospective pilot intervention
V G Hadjianastassiou1, D Karadaglis, M Gavalas
1Accident and Emergency Directorate, University College Hospital, London, UK. vassilis@doctors.org.uk
Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
|January 5, 2002
Summary
Personalized peer-comparison feedback significantly improved junior doctors' documentation practices compared to impersonal departmental feedback. This suggests a more effective approach for educational feedback in medical audits.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Clinical Audit
Background:
- Conventional audit feedback relies on impersonal departmental averages.
- Impersonal feedback may limit its effectiveness in changing physician practice.
- Alternative feedback methods are needed to enhance audit outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of personal, peer-comparison feedback versus conventional departmental feedback.
- To assess the impact of different feedback formats on junior doctor performance.
- To identify optimal strategies for educational feedback in clinical audits.
Main Methods:
- Eleven junior doctors (SHOs) in an A&E department were audited.
- Documentation adequacy was assessed for closed head injury, acute asthma, and chest pain patients.
- Interventions included personal peer-comparison feedback, departmental feedback, and a control group with no feedback.
Main Results:
- The peer-comparison feedback group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement (p<0.0001) in two of three audited documentation variables.
- The departmental feedback group and control group showed no significant improvements.
- Personalized feedback proved superior in enhancing adherence to documentation guidelines.
Conclusions:
- Personal, confidential peer-comparison feedback is more effective than departmental feedback for junior doctors' process audits.
- This pilot study highlights the potential of peer-comparison for improving medical practice.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and diverse conditions is warranted to confirm these findings.