Using a 'peer assessment questionnaire' in primary medical care

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professional Assessment
• Primary Care Research

Background:

• Periodic assessment of clinician performance (revalidation) is crucial for public assurance.
• Valid and reliable methods for assessing individual clinician performance are increasingly important.
• Peer assessment questionnaires are being investigated by the General Medical Council (UK).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using peer assessment questionnaires in UK primary care.
• To examine the validity and reliability of these questionnaires.
• To compare findings with previous international studies.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a volunteer sample of General Practitioners (GPs) in the UK.
• Participating GPs selected 15 colleagues to complete a peer assessment questionnaire.
• The questionnaire assessed clinical skills and professional characteristics like compassion and integrity.

Main Results:

• 113 out of 207 practitioners completed the peer questionnaire implementation.
• A significant percentage of items (1.8-13.7%) were reported as 'unable to evaluate' by peers.
• Results showed contextual differences compared to US-based studies, suggesting variations in item interpretation.

Conclusions:

• No major obstacles were found in implementing peer assessment questionnaires in this volunteer sample.
• The use of peer assessment questionnaires appears feasible and potentially acceptable to clinicians.
• Concerns persist regarding the validity of these instruments and their development, particularly regarding procedural justice and intended use (formative vs. summative).