Physician perspectives of clinical performance feedback and impact on well-being: a qualitative exploration

Objectives: Providing clinical performance feedback to physicians is an established method to improve care, but the impact on physician well-being is unclear. This evaluation aimed to better understand physician perspectives on clinical feedback and its potential impact on well-being.

Design: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was undertaken. Data were analysed via consensus coding using an inductive-deductive approach informed by Clinical Performance Feedback Intervention Theory. Findings were used to develop a novel framework describing the relationship between feedback and well-being.

Setting: Interviews were conducted in a large academic medical centre from June-September 2021.

Participants: We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with general outpatient and inpatient paediatricians and internists.

Results: Physicians felt that feedback supported well-being based on its perceived purpose (intended to promote professional growth vs serving an alternative purpose), which they discerned based on feedback content (aligned with physician priorities vs not aligned), validity (accurate vs inaccurate), actionability (specific vs not, within a physician's sphere of control vs not) and delivery (supportive vs punitive). The Clinical Performance Feedback Well-Being Model is presented to understand how feedback and recipient variables impact well-being.

Conclusions: Attention to the process and content of physician clinical performance feedback may advance both the quality of care and physician well-being.