Are we closing the gap in faculty development needs for feedback training?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine needs, adequacy, types of resources, and challenges in teaching faculty how to provide feedback to residents.

DESIGN

Survey instrument.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

Of the 115 anesthesia residency program directors surveyed, 69 responses were received (60% response rate).

MEASUREMENTS

Percentages of respondents who indicated categories of need, adequacy, and types of resources for teaching faculty to give feedback to residents were recorded, as were narrative descriptions of challenges confronted by respondents.

MAIN RESULTS

While the percentage of programs with faculty development resources has increased from 20.2% in 1999 to 48% today, an overwhelming majority of program directors (90%) feel that faculty require more training in providing feedback to residents. The majority of program directors also want more resources to train their faculty in providing feedback.

CONCLUSIONS

While the perceived gap in providing training for faculty in giving feedback to anesthesia residents has narrowed, program director responses suggest a substantial unmet need remains. Innovative new approaches are in order.