Teaching Observation as a Faculty Development Tool in Medical Education: A Scoping Review

Simon Kitto; Natalia Danilovich; Paula Rowland; Karen Leslie; Paul Hendry; Amanda Hodgson; Arone Fantaye; Heather Lochnan

doi:10.1097/CEH.0000000000000523

Teaching Observation as a Faculty Development Tool in Medical Education: A Scoping Review

J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2023 Jul 18. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000523. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Simon Kitto¹, Natalia Danilovich, Paula Rowland, Karen Leslie, Paul Hendry, Amanda Hodgson, Arone Fantaye, Heather Lochnan

Affiliation

¹ Dr. Kitto: Director of Research, Office of Continuing Professional Development and Professor, Department of Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and Professor of Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore. Dr. Danilovich: Research Associate, Office of Continuing Professional Development, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Rowland: Scientist, Post MD and Wilson Centre, University of Toronto, Strategic Advisor, Centre for Interprofessional Education, University of Toronto, and Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Leslie: Professor of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Staff Pediatrician, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Hendry: Vice-Dean of Continuing Professional Development and Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Cardiac Surgeon, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Ms. Hodgson: Health Sciences Librarian, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Fantaye: Research Associate, Office of Continuing Professional Development, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Lochnan: Assistant Dean, Office of Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Head, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Professor, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 37466351
DOI: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000523

Abstract

Introduction: Health professions education often includes teaching observation to inform faculty development (FD) and indirectly improve student performance. Although these FD approaches are well received by faculty, they remain underused and/or underreported, with limited opportunities to receive feedback in workplace contexts. The goal of our study was to map the depth and breadth of education literature on the use of observation of teaching as a tool of professional development in medical education.

Methods: Following the methodology by Arksey and O'Malley, we conducted a scoping review and searched four databases for articles published in English (final searches in April 2022).

Results: Of 2080 articles identified, 45 met the inclusion criteria. All observation activities were associated with one of the following FD approaches: peer observation of teaching (23 articles, 51%), peer coaching (12, 27%), peer review (9, 20%), and the critical friends approach (1, 2%). Thirty-three articles (73%) concerned formative versions of the observation model that took place in clinical settings (21, 47%), and they tended to be a voluntary (27, 60%), one-off (18, 40%), in-person intervention (29, 65%), characterized by limited institutional support (13, 29%). Both barriers and challenges of teaching observation were identified.

Discussion: This review identified several challenges and shortcomings associated with teaching observation, such as inadequate methodological quality of research articles, inconsistent terminology, and limited understanding of the factors that promote long-term sustainability within FD programs. Practical strategies to consider when designing an FD program that incorporates teaching observation are outlined.