Presenter:
Lucia Juehea Lee
Authors:
Lucia Juehea Lee, Negar Atefi, Rose Hatala
Poster Abstract:
Background: Longitudinal coaching programs are integral to internal medicine (IM) training across Canada and are a crucial element of Competency by Design. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), IM longitudinal coaching program pairs IM residents with faculty coaches who review performance data and provide recommendations to the Competence Committee. However, coaches typically rely on third-party assessments and lack opportunities to directly observe their residents. Integrating direct observation (DO) may enhance feedback quality, strengthen relationships, and enrich learning.
Objective: To explore resident and faculty coach experiences of integrating DO into UBC’s IM longitudinal coaching program.
Methods: First-year IM residents and their longitudinal faculty coaches were invited to incorporate one to two DO sessions into their coaching relationship during the latter half of the academic year. Five resident–coach dyads participated. Following the observations, we conducted individual semi-structured interviews with each participant. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative interpretive description to identify key themes.
Results: Participants described DO as a valuable addition to the coaching relationship. Residents were more receptive to feedback grounded in firsthand observation, while coaches appreciated the added insight into residents’ clinical performance. Several challenges emerged, including logistical barriers and uncertainty about coach’s role during DO. Suggested improvements included earlier integration of DO, clearer role expectations, and more structured support for implementation.
Conclusion: Incorporating DO into longitudinal coaching may enhance educational impact by improving feedback quality and strengthening resident-coach relationships. Findings may inform refinements to coaching models that better support learner development, assessment, and competence progression.
