Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Utilizing a 3D Printed Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Model to Shorten a Resident's Learning Curve
Published on: August 15, 2025
Impact of a Structured Peer Feedback Program in Surgical Residency: A Multi-Institutional Mixed-Methods Study
Mckenzie Roebuck1, Austin Dixon2, Paul Nguyen-Lee3
1Department of Surgery, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of a structured peer feedback program on resident feedback satisfaction, culture, and practices across multiple general surgery residency programs.
Design:
Multi-institutional mixed-methods study using pre- and post-intervention surveys, session-level assessment data, and qualitative analysis of open-ended responses.
Setting:
Three general surgery residency programs during the 2023 to 2025 academic years.
Participants:
Clinical general surgery residents (n = 85 eligible; 62 respondents, 72.9%).
Results:
Residents reported significant improvements in overall program feedback satisfaction (3.68±0.71 vs 3.95±0.37, p = 0.041) and satisfaction with the amount of feedback received (3.14±0.83 vs 3.86±0.47, p < 0.001). Measures of peer feedback culture improved, including mutual support (3.86±0.83 vs 4.27±0.45, p = 0.008), empowerment (3.68±0.78 vs 4.00±0.82, p = 0.035), and comfort providing feedback to senior residents (2.68±1.04 vs 3.73±0.98, p < 0.001). Most residents (82.9%) reported changes in feedback behavior, including increased frequency, comfort, and confidence. Qualitative findings demonstrated a shift toward more intentional, structured feedback practices, improved communication and teamwork, and increased comfort with bidirectional feedback. Feedback exchanges most commonly addressed nontechnical domains, including communication (55.1%), team dynamics (52.8%), and leadership (36.0%). Despite these improvements, perceived feedback quality did not significantly change.
Conclusions:
A structured peer feedback program was associated with improved feedback satisfaction, feedback behaviors, and a more supportive feedback culture across multiple residency programs. These exploratory findings suggest that addressing structural and cultural barriers through routine, bidirectional feedback opportunities may strengthen feedback practices in surgical training, although improving feedback actionability remains a key target for future interventions.