Feedback is a process meant to bring about an improvement in performance. We take feedback from delegates who attend continuing medical education programs (CME) conducted by us. Then the speakers know if they lacked somewhere, and can strive to do better. The feedback forms are kept anonymous, so that the feedback can be given without any inhibition.
Recently we conducted a CME on breastfeeding, for faculty and resident doctors. All senior faculty in the department delivered lectures as well as attended as delegates. The same program was conducted on two different days, so that all faculty and all resident doctors in the department could attend. When I looked at the feedback forms, I noticed that some speakers had been graded occasionally as below average, a few as average, and others above that. Then I also noticed that these speakers had also been graded as good, very good, and excellent by a large number of delegates. So I compiled statistics for a senior, good speaker. The result is shown graphically in the illustration below.
The contents of all the speeches were from standard modules distributed by the Breastfeeding Promotion Association of the country. I found out that this speaker, like many others, had added content from the books provided by WHO and Wellstart International (two excellent resources). If the lectures were considered below average and average by a couple of delegates, there had to be some reason for it. Different reasons came to my mind. I have listed them below.
Recently we conducted a CME on breastfeeding, for faculty and resident doctors. All senior faculty in the department delivered lectures as well as attended as delegates. The same program was conducted on two different days, so that all faculty and all resident doctors in the department could attend. When I looked at the feedback forms, I noticed that some speakers had been graded occasionally as below average, a few as average, and others above that. Then I also noticed that these speakers had also been graded as good, very good, and excellent by a large number of delegates. So I compiled statistics for a senior, good speaker. The result is shown graphically in the illustration below.
- The content was truly poor. In that case we have to communicate with Breastfeeding Promotion Association, WHO and Wellstart International, and ask them to do better. I personally feel this is not the likely cause for the poor grading in the feedback. The general trend was similar on both the days, which confirms that the speaker was truly good, and the reason was bad scores was something else.
- The speaker was disliked by a couple of delegates who were faculty. That is possible as intradepartmental rivalry, jealousies, and bad blood are universal, and sadly, my department is not an exception.
- The speaker was disliked by a couple of residents. This is likely, because faculty do discipline resident doctors, criticize them at times, and the resident doctors may interpret that as intentional harassment. In that case this sort of feedback is good, because that lets out pent up anger, gives them a sense of satisfaction at having got even, and then they can move on in life more easily.
