title: Triangulation of written assessments from patients, teachers and students: useful for students and teachers?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many medical students in general practice clerkships experience lack of observation-based feedback. The StudentPEP project combined written feedback from patients, observing teachers and students.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzes the perceived usefulness of triangulated written feedback.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 71 general practitioners and 79 medical students at the University of Oslo completed project evaluation forms after a 6-week clerkship. A principal component analysis was performed to find structures within the questionnaire. Regression analysis was performed regarding students' answers to whether StudentPEP was worthwhile. Free-text answers were analyzed qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Student and teacher responses were mixed within six subscales, with highest agreement on 'Teachers oral and written feedback' and 'Attitude to patient evaluation'. Fifty-four per cent of the students agreed that the triangulation gave concrete feedback on their weaknesses, and 59% valued the teachers' feedback provided. Two statements regarding the teacher's attitudes towards StudentPEP were significantly associated with the student's perception of worthwhileness. Qualitative analysis showed that patient evaluations were encouraging or distrusted. Some students thought that StudentPEP ensured observation and feedback.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient evaluations increased the students' awareness of the patient perspective. A majority of the students considered the triangulated written feedback beneficial, although time-consuming. The teacher's attitudes strongly influenced how the students perceived the usefulness of StudentPEP.
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sarah Frandsen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Gran
authors.forename: Anja Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Braend
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindbaek
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005246:Feedback; D009664:Norway; D010361:Patients; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014956:Writing