Table 2 Assessor self-report of MUM behaviours in relation to giving negative assessment messages to trainees

I tried to make the trainee feel better by emphasising positive things

SC

I put the negative feedback between two positive comments

SC

I did not point out all of the weaknesses

A

I tried to make it sound nicer than it was

SC

I adopted a very formal or clinical manner when I gave the feedback so the trainee would be less likely to question me

O

I told them only part of the problem

A

I left out some on the negative information

A

I tried to make the feedback more positive than it really was

SC

I changed the feedback or rating so it was not so negative

SC

I changed the feedback during the feedback session due to the trainee’s response to it

O

I changed the feedback or rating to make it more positive

SC

I didn’t go into much detail about the negatives

A

I asked another consultant to give the trainee any negative information

A

I left giving the feedback for as long as I could

A

I avoided the trainee at work, so I would not have to talk to him/her

A

I avoided it altogether

A

I steered clear of circumstances in which I’ll have to give negative information

A

I found ways to get out of sharing negative information

A

I gave the feedback as quickly as I could and before the trainee could react to it

O