The document discusses providing effective feedback in clinical environments. It emphasizes that feedback is essential for learning, but can be challenging. It provides tips for giving feedback, such as collecting specific examples of performance, balancing praise with suggestions for improvement, focusing on behaviors not individuals, timing feedback carefully, and exploring the learner's perspective. An example demonstrates focusing feedback on specific actions rather than general criticisms.

1. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Providing Effective Feedback

2. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Importance of Feedback
• Receiving specific, relevant feedback is
essential for learning in clinical
environment
• Providing feedback can seem
challenging, but is one of most important
ways to demonstrate interest in learners
• Establish an environment where positive
feedback and suggestions for
improvement are done consistently

3. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Give Effective Feedback
• Collect information on student’s
performance so you can provide specific
examples of both positive behaviors and
suggestions for improvement
• Balance praise with suggestions for
improvement
• When correcting someone, focus on the
specific behavior, not the individual

4. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
How to Give Effective Feedback
• Time feedback carefully, assess person’s
ability to receive it
• Explore learner’s own perspective on his
or her performance
• Avoid comparison to other learners
• Follow up with learners frequently for
ongoing discussion and further
questions

5. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Example of Feedback
• Instead of
“You have poor hand/eye coordination”
• Try
“Turn your wrist to the left a bit”

6. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Questions
• What do you think are challenges to
giving and receiving effective
feedback in the clinical setting?
• What challenges are unique to you
as a resident?

7. A teaching hospital of
Harvard Medical School
Thought Question
• Describe a time when you received
feedback that was very helpful to you.
– What made the experience
beneficial and why?