“We don’t expect learners to be perfect. As supervisors, we need to create a supportive learning environment and have open conversations about how they can improve.” - Dr. Tammy ShawA survey of 29 medical learners published in Academic Medicine suggests that actively involving learners in the handover process between supervisors could provide an excellent learning opportunity and relieve learner anxiety about the process. 

Learner handover is a formal or informal process whereby medical supervisors discuss strengths and weaknesses of the learner. The survey, led by Drs. Tammy Shaw and Susan Humphrey-Murto, showed that medical students and residents understand why learner handover is important, but often don’t know what information is being shared and how it’s being used, which can make them fear the worst. 

“We don’t expect learners to be perfect,” said Dr. Shaw, general internist at The Ottawa Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. “As supervisors, we need to create a supportive learning environment and have open conversations about how they can improve.” See the Academic Medicine podcast for more.

Authors: Shaw, Tammy; LaDonna, Kori A.; Hauer, Karen E.; Khalife, Roy; Sheu, Leslie; Wood, Timothy J.; Montgomery, Anne; Rauscher, Scott; Aggarwal, Simran; Humphrey-Murto, Susan.

Funding: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Strategic Initiative Grant, DIME Health Professionals Education Research Grant. All research at The Ottawa Hospital is enabled by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.