Giving feedback to learners in the practice.
BACKGROUND
Many general practitioners accept vocational registrars and medical students into their practice. Giving feedback to students on their work performance is an essential component of teaching in general


OBJECTIVE
This article examines the central role of feedback in the teaching of medical students and registrars and provides practical guidelines on how to provide feedback in the setting of a busy general practice, describes some barriers and pitfalls, and provides a registrar's perspective on what learners see as important.


CONCLUSIONS
For feedback to be effective, it must be given in a supportive environment. Feedback that is specific to the learner performance is highly valued by learners, whereas nonspecific evaluative feedback is less valued. The mentoring relationship between teacher and learner is crucial to giving effective feedback. Learners appreciate a teacher's help identifying any area for improvement, then being given the chance to work out the answers for themselves instead of being told exactly what to do by the more experienced teacher.
Moorhead
Robert
R
General Practice Vocational Education Centre, Discipline of General Practice, School of Primary Aboriginal and Rural Health Care, University of Western Australia. bobmoor@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Maguire
Peter
P
Thoo
Siew Lee
SL
D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D017145:Models, Educational; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods