SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Watch Me: Barriers and Benefits to Peer Observation and Feedback

Pdf Summary

This poster examines barriers and benefits to peer observation and feedback (POF) among hospitalists at an urban academic center. Although the institution has a voluntary, formal POF program, only 16 observations were completed in the 2022–2023 academic year. To better understand low participation, the authors created a 15-question web-based survey about current POF practices, attitudes, perceived benefits, and barriers, and distributed it to 218 hospitalists across three divisions and four inpatient sites.<br /><br />They received 49 responses (22% response rate) with broad representation across gender, years in practice, and prior POF experience. Results showed strong enthusiasm for the value of POF: 95% believed it offers professional development benefits, especially for teaching (95%) and clinical management (89%). Despite this, respondents identified several barriers to participation. The most common were concern about observer judgment, insufficient knowledge of POF’s benefits, and the time required to arrange an observation.<br /><br />When asked about preferred program structure, most respondents favored voluntary participation (81%) over mandatory participation (15%). Preferences were split between formal and informal formats, with slightly more choosing formal (42%) than informal (39%) observation. The authors note that while barriers to POF have been studied in pediatric hospital medicine, this is not well described in adult hospital medicine. Their findings suggest that although hospitalists generally want POF and recognize its value, practical and psychological barriers limit engagement. The study offers guidance for designing more accessible, appealing POF programs and highlights the need for future research on interventions that reduce barriers and measure effects on teaching and clinical practice.

Asset Subtitle

Tianyu Chen

Meta Tag

Author List Aline Zorian, Madison Sui, Nancy Choi, Tianyu Chen

Category Research

Concept Peer Observation and Feedback

Concept Barrier

Concept Faculty Development

Concept Teaching Activities

Concept Clinical Management

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Ucsf

Presenting Author Tianyu Chen

Track Education

Keywords

peer observation

feedback

hospitalists

academic center

survey

professional development

barriers

benefits

teaching

clinical management

Peer Observation and Feedback

Barrier

Faculty Development

Teaching Activities

Clinical Management