[Use of student feedback by preclinical and clinical course directors]

We examined the conceptual and instrumental uses of student feedback on teaching by 2 preclinical and clinical course directors with authority to change structure and content of the courses, assess suitability of instructors and to change methods of teaching. Student feedback questionnaires have been collected systematically for over 2 decades. A report based on this feedback is sent to course directors, the dean, his assistants and the head of the curriculum committee. Course directors from both groups made broad use of the feedback but made greater use of the report than preclinical course directors. Students had greater regard for individual teaching by clinical course directors than by preclinical course coordinators. No relationship was found between the degree of use of feedback by members of either group and their level of teaching. We conclude that senior faculty use student feedback in their decisions regarding the structure and teaching methods of their courses and are not influenced by individual assessments, positive or negative, by their students.