Feedback gap and strategies for handling criticism in early surgical career

The aim of this study was to explore experiences and challenges in handling feedback and criticism among early career surgeons.

This study is part of a prospective, exploratory, longitudinal study evaluating surgical residents throughout residency. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical doctors applying to a locum or residency position in a surgical specialty. Analysis was performed using a cross-sectional thematic analysis.

Departments in general surgery, urology, and pediatric surgery at seven hospitals in Sweden.

Contact information to applicants interviewed for a locum or resident position at the included departments were forwarded to the research group. The research group contacted applicants for inclusion and 50 were included.

Four themes were constructed in relation to the participants' management strategies and experiences: 1) reflection and processing of criticism, 2) emotional response to criticism, 3) cautious feedback culture, and 4) navigating criticism in a hierarchical system.

This study revealed barriers to an effective feedback culture in a pool of applicants for a residency or locum position in surgical disciplines. A culture of reluctance to give feedback was a strong and common denominator. A process of filtering feedback could possibly be a method of survival and thriving in the contemporary workplace. Suggestions and initiatives to change the feedback culture are proposed.