Reflection on MSF

Multisource feedback from patients and colleagues will say something about you as a doctor and as a person.

Do not ignore your MSF as if it belongs to someone else – it is all about you.

In the appraisal document, there is a box for your thoughts or reflections on your MSF – Write something in it!

  • If everyone thinks you are brilliant – reflect on why that is – what do you do that generates this feedback?
  • If some people think you are brilliant, but a few people don’t, then write down your thoughts as to why you got that feedback. You are not going to get struck off by the GMC for getting a bit of bad feedback. Reflect on it, learn from it, then take action.
  • If some people think you are a terrible communicator, reflect on it , say how you are going to improve and put it in your PDP.
  • If some people say your time-management is poor or you are disorganised – think about why they have said that, write it down in the box, and say how you might improve, and put it in your PDP. 
  • If you feel that you don’t have to improve and the responses in the MSF are all wrong – say why not – and discuss it with your appraiser.

Do not ignore your MSF as if it belongs to someone else – it is all about you.

If you need a formal structure to work from, then there are the 5 steps to reflecting on feedback – 

  • What do patients/colleagues see as your strengths?
  • What characteristics are viewed as less positive?
  • How do you compare to other doctors you know?
  • Do you see yourself as the others have seen you?
  • What changes are you going to make in response to this feedback? Use it for some PDP!

Use these questions to write about your feedback.

Below is an example of feedback on MSF –

Reflection on MSF