Faculty Development
Educators Portfolio (Acad Emer Med March 2004 11:3)
REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTS FOR PEER ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICIANS Evans, R., et al, Br Med J 328:1240, May 22, 2004 BACKGROUND: Peer review as a method of rating the performance of individual physicians has been extended from assessment of clinical competency into the realm of humanistic interaction. The reliability of depending upon one’s peers to make such judgments is uncertain. METHODS: The authors of this Welsh study conducted an extensive literature review to identify peer review instruments, in order to evaluate the methods by which they were developed and their appropriateness for use in clinical settings. RESULTS: An in-depth assessment of 42 published papers identified three peer review instruments, two developed in the U.S. (the professional associate rating and the peer review evaluation form) and one developed in Canada (the peer assessment questionnaire). Each instrument incorporated a Likert-type scale for the rating of various humanistic aspects of physician performance (compassion, integrity, etc.). None complied with established standards for the development of instruments for psychometric assessment, and the reliability of their generalizability to other practice settings is uncertain. In no case did the instrument developers adequately address the training of the peer reviewers in the use of the instruments. CONCLUSIONS: Most physicians are unlikely to be in a position to have accurate knowledge about the humanistic performance of their colleagues in terms of their interaction with patients, and currently available peer review instruments are neither based on established standards, nor supported by any empiric evidence. 35 references (richevansg@msn.com)
Great article on becoming a medical student educator (Acad Emerg Med 2005;12(4):302e1
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