A report of an evaluation of the pilot peer review scheme for general dental practitioners working in the general dental services in England.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the pilot peer review scheme for general dental practitioners, working in the general dental services in England.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of a 50% random sample of end of project résumés.


METHODS
The scheme was piloted from August 1991 to April 1996. At the end of each project a résumé was completed.


METHODS
The random sample of résumés was subjected to content analysis by three reviewers who had previously undergone consistency training.


METHODS
The range of topics reviewed, the choice of single or multiple topics, the direct relevance of projects to patient care and the comments of the scheme's participants.


RESULTS
332 résumés were analysed, 89% included positive comments. Overall 42% of projects reviewed single topics, with participants in 4 out of 13 regions favouring this approach. 61% of topics related directly to patient care.


CONCLUSIONS
The pilot peer review scheme was enthusiastically welcomed by the participants and achieved its objectives of encouraging initiatives to improve patient services and testing different types of peer review.
Eaton
K A
KA
Eastman Dental Institute, University College London.
Fleming
W G
WG
Rich
J L
JL
D019230:Dental Audit / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000592:standards