Table 5 Student opinion on how best to provide placement feedback

“Online surveys are good. Face to face feedback falls short. I feel it never gets passed on”

“I think the school should talk to students, ideally in focus groups. These questionnaires are too restrictive, and are often given at a time that is inconvenient. Students’ thoughts and feelings about placements change over time. There should be opportunities to give feedback at various points throughout the semester. Students also need to be able to give feedback on a forum that they can be sure is anonymous or confidential.”

“One-to-one (or small group sessions) with an impartial/external person would be best.”

“I think a blend is good, but it’s good to be able to meet with a person and explain an issue properly.”

“Perhaps encourage the discussion board … to be used where students can post queries, staff can write replies to queries or comments to be seen by all students rather than anonymous surveys and emails back and forth….”

“….I think it would be good if consultants in hospitals asked us for feedback on our experience during our clinical placement with their teams.”

“There is a fear of being judged or deemed incompetent that may prevent students from talking to their clinical supervisor”