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What is effective supervision and how does it happen? A critical incident study
David Cottrell1, Sue Kilminster, Brian Jolly
1Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, UK. d.j.cottrell@leeds.ac.uk
Medical Education
|October 31, 2002
Summary
Effective medical supervision relies on direct oversight and a strong supervisory relationship. Both educational supervisors and specialist registrars agree on key features, but differ on concerns regarding ineffective supervision.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Professional Development
- Healthcare Quality
Background:
- Effective supervision is crucial for training specialist registrars.
- Understanding the perspectives of both supervisors and trainees is essential for improving supervision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key features of medical supervision.
- To explore the differing perspectives of educational supervisors and specialist registrars on supervision.
Main Methods:
- A critical incident study was employed.
- Telephone interviews were conducted with educational supervisors and specialist registrars in the Yorkshire region.
Main Results:
- Direct supervision and the quality of the supervisory relationship are paramount for effective medical training.
- Specialist registrars prioritized addressing inadequate supervision, while supervisors focused on direct supervision failures and underperforming trainees.
- Supervision practices varied significantly across medical specialties, with notable challenges identified in anaesthesia, medicine, and paediatrics.
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the importance of direct supervision and the supervisory relationship in medical education.
- Clearer guidance, procedures, and mechanisms are needed to address issues of inadequate supervision and trainee performance.
- There is a recognized deficit in formal training for medical supervisors.
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