Assessment of a peer review process among interns at an Australian hospital.
OBJECTIVE
This study considered how a peer review process could work in an Australian public hospital setting.


METHODS
Up to 229 medical personnel completed an online performance assessment of 52 Junior Medical Officers (JMOs) during the last quarter of 2008.


RESULTS
Results indicated that the registrar was the most suitable person to assess interns, although other professionals, including interns themselves, were identified as capable of playing a role in a more holistic appraisal system. Significant sex differences were also found, which may be worthy of further study. Also, the affirmative rather than the formative aspect of the assessment results suggested that the criteria and questions posed in peer review be re-examined.


CONCLUSIONS
A peer review process was able to be readily implemented in a large institution, and respondents were positive towards peer review generally as a valuable tool in the development of junior medical staff.
ANU Medical School, Building 42a, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. pmathews2@hotmail.com
Paul W
PW
Mathews
Cathy
C
Owen
Wayne
W
Ramsey
Gerry
G
Corrigan
Mark
M
Bassett
Johannes
J
Wenzel
D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D010380:Peer Review / Q000592:standards*; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods; D014739:Victoria