title: Survey of radiologist attitudes and perceptions regarding the incorporation of a departmental peer review system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of staff radiologists regarding the incorporation of a nonanonymous peer review system at an academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire gauging knowledge of, attitudes toward, and perceptions regarding peer review was distributed to all staff radiologists at a large academic hospital. The survey was distributed before the implementation of a nonanonymous peer review system. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Responses were cross-tabulated according to subspecialty and number of years in practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of respondents agreed that peer review is important for improving patient care (31 of 36 [86%]) and professional development (29 of 36 [81%]), but the vast majority (33 of 36 [92%]) believed that peer review should be anonymous. Twenty-six of 36 respondents (72%) believed that peer review will not be safe from malpractice issues, 24 of 36 (67%) agreed that it has the potential to damage interpersonal relationships within the department, and 15 of 36 (42%) believed that it may influence their job security or rankings within the department. Significant differences were identified between radiologists with more and fewer years of practice experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incorporation of a nonanonymous peer review system generates anxiety and uncertainty within a radiology department. The investigation of physicians' attitudes toward and perceptions about peer review is important for understanding the potential impact not only on patient care but also on radiologists' relationships and psychology in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Health Sciences North, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loreto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Sciences at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Obstetrical Ultrasound Center @ Sunnybrook, Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: phyllis.glanc@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glanc
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D010380:Peer Review; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Peer review; patient safety; quality assurance; radiologist attitudes; radiology errors