Impact of a Structured Peer Feedback Program in Surgical Residency: A Multi-Institutional Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Peer feedback is crucial for professional development in medical education.
• Existing feedback mechanisms in surgical residency may be suboptimal, impacting resident growth.
• Structured programs are needed to enhance the quality and impact of peer feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a structured peer feedback program on general surgery residents.
• To evaluate changes in resident feedback satisfaction, culture, and practices.
• To identify key areas and domains addressed by peer feedback.

Main Methods:

• Multi-institutional mixed-methods study over two academic years.
• Pre- and post-intervention surveys administered to general surgery residents (n=62).
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses and session-level assessment data.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in overall feedback satisfaction (p=0.041) and satisfaction with feedback amount (p<0.001).
• Enhanced peer feedback culture: increased mutual support (p=0.008), empowerment (p=0.035), and comfort giving feedback to seniors (p<0.001).
• 82.9% of residents reported behavior changes; feedback focused on nontechnical skills like communication (55.1%) and team dynamics (52.8%).

Conclusions:

• Structured peer feedback programs positively influence satisfaction and culture in surgical residency.
• Addressing systemic barriers via routine, bidirectional feedback can strengthen surgical training.
• Improving the actionability of feedback remains a critical area for future research and intervention.