Attitudes to peer review as a competence assurance structure--results of a survey of Irish physicians.
BACKGROUND
The Medical Council in Ireland is currently implementing Competence Assurance Structures (CAS). Peer review has been proposed as a tool to measure physician competence.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the attitudes of physicians working in the Irish healthcare system to a peer review programme of competence assurance prior to its implementation.


METHODS
A postal survey was sent to all physicians in the Irish Medical Directory in November 2003. Nine questions were asked to gauge attitudes to peer review as a CA tool. The returned questionnaires were collated and data extracted based on responses.


RESULTS
The response rate was 67%. The majority of respondents (92%) felt peer review would inform competence assurance in Ireland. Most physicians who were surveyed felt an on-site assessment (88%) every 5 years (87%) was the preferred method. Over 30% responded that there should be a financial incentive for completing a review, and 70% would pay to be assessed. The UK model of competence assurance was the model most physicians preferred for the Irish setting (42%).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of physicians practising in Ireland would favour a peer review system of competence assurance. The financial implications, and structure, of such a system would need to be explored prior to implementation.
Moss
A C
AC
Dept of General Medicine, St James's Hospital, Dublin.
Dugal
T
T
Silke
B
B
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires