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Feedback gap and strategies for handling criticism in early surgical career

Pedersen, Hanne LU orcid ; Tejera, Alexander LU orcid ; Mathieu, Christopher LU ; Johansson, Britt Marie LU ; Anderberg, Magnus LU orcid and Hagelsteen, Kristine LU orcid (2025) In Surgery Open Science 28. p.81-88
Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore experiences and challenges in handling feedback and criticism among early career surgeons. Design: This study is part of a prospective, exploratory, longitudinal study evaluating surgical residents throughout residency. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical doctors applying to a locum or residency position in a surgical specialty. Analysis was performed using a cross-sectional thematic analysis. Setting: Departments in general surgery, urology, and pediatric surgery at seven hospitals in Sweden. Participants: Contact information to applicants interviewed for a locum or resident position at the included departments were forwarded to the research group. The research group... (More)

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore experiences and challenges in handling feedback and criticism among early career surgeons. Design: This study is part of a prospective, exploratory, longitudinal study evaluating surgical residents throughout residency. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical doctors applying to a locum or residency position in a surgical specialty. Analysis was performed using a cross-sectional thematic analysis. Setting: Departments in general surgery, urology, and pediatric surgery at seven hospitals in Sweden. Participants: Contact information to applicants interviewed for a locum or resident position at the included departments were forwarded to the research group. The research group contacted applicants for inclusion and 50 were included. Results: Four themes were constructed in relation to the participants' management strategies and experiences: 1) reflection and processing of criticism, 2) emotional response to criticism, 3) cautious feedback culture, and 4) navigating criticism in a hierarchical system. Conclusion: This study revealed barriers to an effective feedback culture in a pool of applicants for a residency or locum position in surgical disciplines. A culture of reluctance to give feedback was a strong and common denominator. A process of filtering feedback could possibly be a method of survival and thriving in the contemporary workplace. Suggestions and initiatives to change the feedback culture are proposed.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Feedback, Feedback culture, Learning environment, Resident, Surgery
in
Surgery Open Science
volume
28
pages
81 - 88
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105022867857
  • pmid:41399724
ISSN
2589-8450
DOI
10.1016/j.sopen.2025.11.005
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
id
a232abd6-3216-4f8b-9df0-d24a87bb229a
date added to LUP
2025-12-18 09:51:05
date last changed
2025-12-19 03:33:51
@article{a232abd6-3216-4f8b-9df0-d24a87bb229a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: The aim of this study was to explore experiences and challenges in handling feedback and criticism among early career surgeons. Design: This study is part of a prospective, exploratory, longitudinal study evaluating surgical residents throughout residency. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with medical doctors applying to a locum or residency position in a surgical specialty. Analysis was performed using a cross-sectional thematic analysis. Setting: Departments in general surgery, urology, and pediatric surgery at seven hospitals in Sweden. Participants: Contact information to applicants interviewed for a locum or resident position at the included departments were forwarded to the research group. The research group contacted applicants for inclusion and 50 were included. Results: Four themes were constructed in relation to the participants' management strategies and experiences: 1) reflection and processing of criticism, 2) emotional response to criticism, 3) cautious feedback culture, and 4) navigating criticism in a hierarchical system. Conclusion: This study revealed barriers to an effective feedback culture in a pool of applicants for a residency or locum position in surgical disciplines. A culture of reluctance to give feedback was a strong and common denominator. A process of filtering feedback could possibly be a method of survival and thriving in the contemporary workplace. Suggestions and initiatives to change the feedback culture are proposed.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pedersen, Hanne and Tejera, Alexander and Mathieu, Christopher and Johansson, Britt Marie and Anderberg, Magnus and Hagelsteen, Kristine}},
  issn         = {{2589-8450}},
  keywords     = {{Feedback; Feedback culture; Learning environment; Resident; Surgery}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{81--88}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Surgery Open Science}},
  title        = {{Feedback gap and strategies for handling criticism in early surgical career}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sopen.2025.11.005}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.sopen.2025.11.005}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}