Improving Pediatric Fellows' Feedback Skills and Confidence Through Objective Structured Examinations

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Communication Skills Training
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Effective feedback is a crucial communication skill for medical trainees.
• Existing models for training and assessing feedback skills are limited.
• Pediatric fellows require structured methods to enhance their feedback delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an Observed Structured Feedback Examination (OSFE).
• To provide feedback training to pediatric fellows.
• To assess changes in fellows' feedback skills and self-reported confidence.

Main Methods:

• Development of an OSFE with standardized scenarios and recipients.
• Baseline and post-intervention assessments of skills and confidence.
• Fellows received simulation-based feedback training and individualized coaching.
• Skills and confidence were reassessed immediately after training and at 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• All participating fellows demonstrated improved performance on the OSFE after training (mean change +0.89).
• Skills improvements were sustained at the 3-month follow-up (mean change +0.92).
• Fellows reported significant increases in confidence regarding feedback knowledge (mean change +2.07 post, +1.67 at 3 months).

Conclusions:

• Feedback training incorporating simulation and individualized coaching effectively enhances fellows' skills.
• The OSFE is a viable tool for assessing and improving feedback competency.
• The training program led to moderate improvements in performance, confidence, and skill retention.