Peer feedback as an aid to learning - What do we want? Feedback. When do we want it? Now!

Background: With 360 degrees appraisals integral to professional life, learning how to give constructive feedback is an essential generic skill. Aim: To use a formative objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for skills acquisition and development in giving feedback, whilst facilitating awareness of the importance of communication skills in clinical practice. Methods: Medical and nursing students took part in a formative OSCE. Using actors as simulated patients, a three-station OSCE circuit was repeated three times so that students could rotate through the roles as ''candidate'', ''examiner'' and ''observer''. As ''candidates'', they received immediate feedback on their consultation from the ''examiner''/''observer''. The events were evaluated using a questionnaire and focus groups. Results: Students immensely valued this learning event for considering expectations for a performance (91--100%%). Concerns around giving peers feedback were acknowledged, and they were divided on preference for feedback from peers or tutors (48%% versus 52%%). But training in providing feedback and criteria for assessment were considered helpful, as was instruction by faculty to give corrective feedback to peers. Conclusions: Peer observation and professional accountability for giving constructive feedback enhanced awareness of their skills education and training needs. It also opened the dialogue for identifying opportunities for peer assessment and feedback to support work-based education and skills development.