Feedback in an Epidemic?

Abstract

Undergraduates and postgraduates frequently receive feedback on their clinical and non-clinical performance and progression throughout their studies and career. Good quality feedback has been shown to improve trainees' confidence and performance. This article discusses the benefits of feedback and reviews the communication, technical, financial, and networking barriers to feedback introduced by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its impact on the quality of medical and dental education in the UK, followed by a critical reflection. In addition, it reviews the pros and cons of self-assessment of clinical learning, and it provides an overview of the most widely accepted feedback models: Pendleton's rules, SET-GO method, agenda-led, outcome-based analysis (ALOBA) model and Prepare to Ask-Discuss-Ask-Plan Together (Prepare to ADAPT) on the quality of feedback received. The aim is to identify the most suitable feedback method to help trainees with their clinical and professional development during the COVID-19 pandemic and any possible pandemics in the future.