Suggestions for clinicians providing--and residents seeking--feedback

As a form of verbal or nonverbal communication intended to promote learning, feedback plays an important role in the medical training process. More often than not, however, feedback is given--and received--inappropriately by both clinicians and residents, respectively. This article outlines common types of instructional feedback, their inherent advantages and disadvantages, and suggests ways in which clinicians and residents may incorporate feedback effectively in a residency/training program.