Dear Editor,

The role of timely and effective feedback by teachers to facilitate the learning of medical students has been much emphasized in the literature. But there are only limited shreds of evidence on the importance of including peer and patient feedback to enhance the process of learning and comprehensively assess the learning outcomes. In the latest article by Lerchenfeldt et al., the analysis of the usefulness of peer feedback while learning in teams has been performed [1]. Supporting the findings in the study, this letter further extends to involve patients as a critical component for facilitating learning and assessment in addition to peer opinions.

As mentioned in the article, peer feedback holds immense scope in medical education. Students not only benefit in terms of the feedback received but become aware of different learning strategies and develop reflective and analytical thinking along with good communication skills by providing effective feedback. But it is crucial that the standard of feedback is maintained at a professional level and does not hold any conflict. Medical students should be trained in giving as well as receiving feedback. While giving feedback to their peers, students should ensure that it is constructive, non-threatening, and reflective and most importantly should not have any personal attacks. To implement peer feedback and assessment, creating a conducive and learner-centred institutional environment is essential.

In addition to this, we also emphasize obtaining patient feedback. Students receive a realistic knowledge of how their skills transfer into practice by obtaining feedback from patients who have witnessed their clinical interactions and experienced their care during different phases of medical education from taking history to clinical care during clerkships. This feedback bridges the gap between classroom teaching and real-world application by reflecting on students’ clinical knowledge, effectiveness in conveying information, addressing concerns, showing empathy, professionalism, and establishing trust with patients.

Thus, by capturing a broader range of observations and experiences, peer and patient feedback creates a system of accountability and quality assurance. Regular feedback sessions with multiple perspectives enrich the learning experience and help educators and institutions monitor the learning progression of students by providing timely guidance and support and improving the teaching methods accordingly.