Effects of Longitudinal Coaching on Relationships and Feedback Processes in Pediatric Subspecialty Fellowships—An Interpretive Description Study
Open accessAbstract
Background: Coaching in graduate medical education provides a facilitative approach to feedback as well as opportunities for residents and fellows to engage with feedback and develop individualized improvement goals. Objective: To explore the roles and actions of successful coaches in longitudinal coaching relationships and how they enable feedback processes. Methods: Using interpretive description methodology, we performed semi-structured interviews with pediatrics fellows (n=11), faculty coaches (n=9), and program directors (n=2) from 2 pediatric subspecialty fellowship training programs at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Both training programs had previously implemented longitudinal clinical coaching programs. Interview questions aimed to explore the roles and impacts of coaches within a longitudinal coaching program. Interviews took place in 2019 and 2020. Results: We identified 4 major actions to the coaching role in longitudinal coaching relationships: (1) establish the coach-fellow relationship; (2) prepare for the coaching conversation; (3) facilitate feedback dialogue; and (4) serve as the go-to person to raise uncomfortable issues. Additionally, nearly all participants expressed support for a longitudinal coaching program to support fellows' growth and development of personalized learning goals. Conclusions: By fulfilling these 4 key aspects to the coaching role, coaches in longitudinal relationships with coachees enable feedback processes.
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Coaches receive no compensation.
“| Coach compensation | No compensation | [40,42,96] | |”
From Coaching in undergraduate and graduate medical education: a scoping review of success factors, barriers, and outcomes (2026) · cites this paper as [42]
Interview is used as an instrument of measurement.
“| Coaching measure | Interview as instrument of measurement | [42,73,110] |”
From Coaching in undergraduate and graduate medical education: a scoping review of success factors, barriers, and outcomes (2026) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Jain, P. G., McBride, M. E., Caliendo, A., & Eppich, W.
- Affiliations
- Lurie Children's Hospital (US)
- Northwestern University (US)
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Jain, Priya G.
- Venue
- Journal of Graduate Medical Education
- Published
- 2022-08-01
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 458-465
- ISSN
- 1949-8349 (ISSN-L)
- 1949-8357
- PMC
- PMC9380628
- OpenAlex
- W4291172188
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2
- FWCI
- 1.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Graduate Medical Education (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Coaching Methods and Impact
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
- Keywords
- coach-client relationship, feedback mechanisms, graduate medical education, feedback dialogue
- MeSH terms
- Mentoring, Child, Feedback, Fellowships and Scholarships, Humans, Internship and Residency, Pediatrics, Surveys and Questionnaires
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