A critical analysis of mini peer assessment tool (mini-PAT)

The structured evaluation of doctors' performance through peer review is a relatively new phenomenon brought about by public demand for accountability to patients. Medical knowledge (as assessed by examination score) is no longer a good predictor of individual performance, humanistic qualities and communication skills. The process of peer review (or multi-source assessment) was developed over the last two decades in the USA and has started to pick up momentum in the UK through the introduction of Modernizing Medical Careers. However the concept is not new. Driven by market forces, it was initially developed by industrial organizations to improve leadership qualities with a view to increasing productivity through positive behaviour change and self-awareness. Multi-source feedback is not without its problems and may not always produce its desired outcomes. In this article we review the evidence for peer review and critically discuss the current process of mini peer assessment tool (mini-PAT) as the assessment tool for peer review employed in UK.