What About the Coach? Mixed-Methods Study Assessing the Experience of Coaches in a Peer Surgical Coaching Program

Peer coaching programs for surgeons are becoming a popular means of enhancing performance. Although coaching is directed at the coachee, little is understood about the impact and potential benefits accrued by the surgeons participating as coaches in such programs. This study aimed to understand the impact of peer surgical coaching from the perspective of surgeons participating as coaches.

A concurrent mixed methods study design was used. Participants were recruited from a cohort of 24 surgeons who acted as coaches in the peer-led Surgical Coaching for Operative Performance Enhancement (SCOPE) program, across 9 hospitals from 2020-2022. Following completion of the program participants completed an anonymous structured e-survey and semi-structured interviews.

Fifteen (78.9%) of the nineteen survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that participation resulted in significant change to their practice. Fifteen (78.9%) thought the program benefited both coaches and coachees equally. Coaches reported perceived benefit from participation, describing five conceptual categories of the coach's experience: (1) affective attitude towards participation, (2) benefits accrued to the coach as an individual, (3) coaching compared to existing CME activities, (4) effects on overall surgical culture, (5) navigating the logistics of coaching. Time constraints were the most frequently reported barrier to participation.

This study suggests that coaches find peer coaching to be both professionally fulfilling and clinically impactful to their own practice. Existing and future programs should promote both coach and coachee professional development and adapt programs to facilitate this to maximize surgeon engagement.