Say What? Disparity between Resident and Faculty Perceptions of Immediate Postoperative Feedback

Abstract

Objectives:

1) Investigate differing perceptions between otolaryngology residents and faculty regarding immediate post-operative feedback. We hypothesized that residents would be less satisfied with the degree of feedback. 2) Identify factors that might explain observed differences between perceptions.

Methods:

Prospective observational study of residents and faculty for one month during a university based otolaryngology residency rotation. Immediately following each operation, the faculty surgeon provided the resident surgeon with post-operative feedback. Both then independently completed an identical confidential survey. Both surgeons were asked to address the amount, quality, content, and satisfaction about the immediate feedback and rate the resident’s operative performance in 9 core areas on a 5 point Likert scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine significance.

Results:

To date, 142 surveys were completed by 22 faculty and 16 residents following 71 operations. Contrary to expectations, the faculty were less satisfied with overall feedback given (4.06 vs 4.45; P < 0.001), sufficiency of feedback given (4.04 vs 4.45; P < 0.001), and specificity of feedback given (4.06 vs 4.39; P < 0.005). Compared to faculty evaluations, the residents rated their surgical performance lower in all 9 core areas and overall assessment of operative ability (4.17 vs 3.77; P < 0.001). Senior faculty level described fewer differences in perception of surgical performance.

Conclusions:

Faculty were less satisfied with the post-operative feedback they provided, while residents were more critical of their own operative performance. These results will direct future efforts to improve educational feedback within our specialty.