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Medical students' experiences and needs from written reflective journal feedback
Author(s) -
Rozental Lior,
Meitar Dafna,
KarnieliMiller Orit
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/medu.14406
Subject(s) - reflective writing , peer feedback , psychology , medical education , tone (literature) , journal writing , reflective practice , reflection (computer programming) , pedagogy , mathematics education , teaching method , medicine , computer science , art , literature , programming language
Abstract Introduction Reflective ability is an important skill for enhancing professionalism and developing communication skills. To improve reflective ability, medical educators encourage use of written reflective journals, for which feedback is important. It is difficult for educators to anticipate how their feedback will be perceived. Therefore, this study examined students' experiences with educators' written feedback on reflective journals. Methods A qualitative, immersion/crystallization analysis of 60 written feedback texts to 15 medical students (30 identified by students as meaningful and 30 as less meaningful) and in‐depth semi‐structured interviews with these students. We did not define ‘meaningful’, to leave room for students' own interpretations. We analysed the feedback to identify what it includes (its components) and analysed the interviews to learn about students' experiences of receiving the feedback and the specific components. Results Students experienced five components as meaningful: supportive and encouraging statements; legitimisation of their emotions; educators sharing personal‐professional experiences; asking questions to enhance reflection; and focusing on the students' main concern. These components enhanced students' willingness to read and learn from the feedback. Three components were experienced as less meaningful: detached, impersonal feedback; negative tone (criticism); and technical issues, for example brevity. These disappointing and hurtful components led students to pay less attention to the feedback or to invest less effort in future written assignments. Conclusions The present study identified components in written reflective journal feedback texts and the experience and needs of students who received them. It showed the complexity of writing reflective feedback because of the need to support students through it, help them deal with emotions, identify and focus on personal content that matters to them, and provide opportunities to develop and enhance their reflective ability, while being mindful of their emotional state. To help educators in this challenging task, a self‐assessment mnemonic (‘FEEDBACK’) for use before sending the initial feedback was developed.