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Understanding the influence of emotions and reflection upon multi-source feedback acceptance and use
Joan Sargeant1, Karen Mann, Douglas Sinclair
1Continuing Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, 5849 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada. joan.sargeant@dal.ca
Advances in Health Sciences Education : Theory and Practice
|November 9, 2006
Summary
Negative performance feedback can cause distress, impacting acceptance. Facilitated reflection and focusing on performance tasks can help physicians process emotions and use feedback effectively.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychology
- Physician Performance
Background:
- Negative performance feedback can trigger emotional responses that hinder its acceptance and utilization.
- This study examined the emotional reactions of family physicians undergoing a multi-source feedback (MSF) program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emotional responses of family physicians to multi-source feedback (MSF).
- To identify the sources of these emotions.
- To determine the influence of emotions on feedback acceptance and use.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 family physicians participating in a pilot MSF study.
- Participants were purposefully recruited to represent a range of performance scores.
- The study was conducted at Dalhousie University between 2003 and 2004.
Main Results:
- Physicians' emotional reactions stemmed from comparing feedback with self-perceptions.
- Agreement with feedback led to positive responses; disagreement often resulted in distress.
- Distress was sometimes prolonged, with some physicians eventually using feedback after reflection, while others focused on questioning the MSF process.
Conclusions:
- Negative feedback can evoke negative emotions, impeding acceptance and use.
- Interventions such as emotional awareness, focusing feedback on performance, and facilitated reflection can improve feedback assimilation and utilization.
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