Feedback focus: An exploration of documented feedback conversations with episodic versus continuous supervisors

Purpose Feedback conversations are essential to learning, and the relationship between supervisor and learner plays a role in the effectiveness of feedback shared. Documentation of these conversations in learner portfolios is intended to support reflection, learning, and growth. However, there is limited understanding of what gets documented after feedback conversations. Guided by Hattie and Timperley’s model for feedback, we examined documented feedback conversations with episodic and continuous supervisors to better understand the information contained in learner portfolios.Methods The authors examined archived de-identified FieldNotes (FNs; workplace-based assessment forms) completed for residents located at two teaching sites in a Canadian university-based family medicine residency program. The content of written feedback on each FN was coded for feedback focus (Task, Process, Self-regulation and Self) from Hattie and Timperley’s model, and proportions of foci were compared between episodic supervisors (ES) and continuous supervisors (CS).Results A total of 10,624 FNs were collected from 158 residents who began and completed their residency training between 2015–2023. The dataset included 5,308 FNs categorized as ES (50%) and 5,316 FNs categorized as CS (50%). A total of 1,332 FNs (12.5%) contained no feedback leaving 9,292 FNs for analysis. A total of 12,960 feedback foci were coded with most feedback focused on Task for all supervisors. CS included Process feedback in a higher proportion than ES. ES included Self feedback in a higher proportion than CS. There were no differences for Task or Self-regulation feedback.Conclusions This study provides insight into the content of written summaries of feedback conversations included in learner portfolios. There are differences in the content of feedback documented from ES compared with CS. This information can be used to improve the delivery and use of feedback content from different relationships important for learning, reflection and the development of self-regulated learning skills.