Five doctors with experience of training in the UK and other countries took part in an online discussion about clinical supervision. The following extracts from the discussion were confirmed by the participants.
Is feedback a skill that can be learnt?
Most participants described settings in which feedback was treated as a skill that could be developed. Agreeing expectations came first, followed by specific, actionable suggestions and an opportunity to review progress.
Teaching within clinical decisions
Participants described teaching that was embedded in real clinical decision-making rather than arranged solely as separate lessons. They generally felt that learning through the work itself had a more direct bearing on the development of doctors in training.
A small change worth bringing back
Asked to choose one practice they would take home, several participants chose more specific feedback: moving from an assessment of the person towards a clear action they could try next.
These extracts record the participants’ views. They do not represent institutional positions or an evaluation of a whole medical education system.