Table 1 Justification for a feedback model for memory clinic trainees

Memory clinic trainees will encounter patients with a level of cognitive impairment that can interfere with their ability to understand results and must be able to deliver and adapt their feedback in a way that promotes a patient’s understanding of these results.

Trainees may miscommunicate with patients and visit partners (e.g., overuse of medical jargon).

Memory clinic trainees often have to navigate complex relationship dynamics between patients and their visit partners while sharing nuanced information to them during feedback.

Patients and visit partners may be left feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsupported during/after a feedback session.

Memory clinic trainees are often the first to share new diagnoses with patients and visit partners that may be associated with chronic and/or terminal illnesses (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease).

Trainees may feel inadequate or distressed in response to sharing emotionally difficult diagnoses to patients/visit partners, which can reduce trainee feelings of efficacy and increase risk for burnout.