Preceptor Development- The Art and Science of Effective Feedback: Best Practices for Improvement

Experiential education accounts for up to 1/3 of pharmacy education and offers tremendous benefits of hands-on learning in preparation for clinical practice. Preceptors serve a crucial role in educating and evaluating students, but often face challenges related to providing feedback. Defined as an ongoing formative process that presents nonjudgmental information that helps the trainee to build on a foundation of skills and behaviors¹, providing feedback is perhaps the most essential skill for preceptors who are involved in experiential learning.  Incorporation of formative feedback is necessary to prepare students to function as qualified practitioners upon completion of their experiential education. Yet, providing effective feedback is often noted as a challenge by many faculty and preceptors alike.