Likelihood of Change: A Study Assessing Surgeon Use of Multisource Feedback Data

BACKGROUND: Multisource feedback, using questionnaire-based data from patients, coworkers, and medical colleagues, is designed to provide broad-based information about clinical performance to facilitate change. PURPOSE: To determine and explain the likelihood that surgeons would implement change following receipt of performance data. METHODS: Surgeons were surveyed to determine the likelihood they would make changes based on specific feedback about their clinical practices. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three surgeons (76.5%) responded to the follow-up survey. There was little correlation between performance ratings provided by self or medical colleagues and the likelihood of change. A linear regression analysis indicated that 19.2% of the variance in likelihood to change could be explained by age, time spent reviewing feedback, the gap between self- and other ratings, and surgical specialty. CONCLUSION: Surgeons made few changes in practice in response to feedback data. Attention needs to be paid to methods that might increase surgeon use of performance data