A Four-Year Longitudinal Curriculum to Improve Feedback-Seeking Behaviors for Medical Students

Abstract

Introduction: Feedback is essential for performance improvement and plays a pivotal role in competency-based medical education. Medical learners need training to acquire skills to effectively seek feedback for their unique situations. Methods: We developed a 4-year longitudinal curriculum designed to encourage feedback-seeking by medical students. The 4.5-hour curriculum consisted of interactive lectures, feedback-seeking surveys, trigger videotapes, and peer-group discussions in small- and large-group formats. A volunteer study cohort (n = 14/37, 38%) was interviewed in 4 separate waves in individual and focus-group formats to explore perceptions about feedback-seeking and effectiveness of the curriculum. Results: Themes and student quotes related to the learning objectives were summarized. The students expressed appreciation for the value of seeking feedback. They appreciated the techniques they learned and the frequent reminders. They particularly appreciated the opportunities to share successes and failures related to feedback-seeking with their peers. Discussion: Our novel feedback-seeking curriculum supported students’ understanding of the importance of feedback and their effective use of multiple feedback-seeking techniques. The longitudinal component supports greater opportunity for building space in the curriculum, incorporating reflection and reinforcement, and creating capacity for student application and technique refinement. Conclusions: Teaching students feedback-seeking through various techniques tailored for their unique situations, rather than waiting to potentially receive feedback, is important for their professional development and overall medical education.