Surgical Supervisor Feedback Affects Performance: A Blinded Randomized Study

While performing a simple task of following: a suture while closing a surgical wound in a simulated environment, we hypothesized that negative reinforcement results in increased procedural errors, longer operating time and poorer trainee satisfaction. We aimed to measure the effect on participant performance and the perception of the instructor, following positive or negative supervisor feedback during the task. A blinded randomized study was conducted assessing positive and negative supervisor feedback styles on participant performance in a simulated operation room. Students performed the task twice, with a reflection in between the repeated task. We found that the change in procedure time between the two tasks was adversely affected by feedback style. Participants receiving negative feedback sought cues to improve. From this study, it was found that negative supervisor feedback has the potential to adversely affect elements of performance. Despite this, participants receiving negative feedback express a willingness to improve their performance by seeking cues from the supervisor.