Human-Centered Design Reflections on Providing Feedback to Primary Care Physicians

To better understand physicians’ current and desired feedback experiences on their interactions with patients, this qualitative study applied design thinking methods to facilitate discussions and produce artifacts. Nine primary care physicians and one medical resident participated in a design workshop to understand experiences, needs, and opportunities for design. Thematic analysis found that, 1) Feedback, received in many forms, is important to physicians’ practice and patient well-being, 2) there are concerns about the impact of certain types of feedback, and 3) experience and system-related factors can impact physicians’ workflow and interactions. Tools to improve feedback should take into account these considerations. While residents may desire immediate, direct feedback, concerns about the potential impact on patient care and their current workflow are important.