Practical tips for medical educators to manage practice variation in medicine trainees

<ns5:p>Practice variation is defined as the difference in how healthcare providers treat patients with similar conditions. Such variation among faculty can affect the training experiences and future practices of learners in positive and negative ways. The purpose of this article is to discuss strategies that faculty can use to maximize learning experiences and mitigate potential harms associated with practice variation during clinical training. By focusing on actionable approaches and techniques informed by our experiences, combined with available evidence, we aim to offer a practical perspective for educators working with a range of trainees. High-impact behaviors include acknowledging and inviting discussion about the presence of clinical practice variation, maintaining a curious perspective on variation and its contributors, and preparing trainees to work in a variety of practice settings.</ns5:p>