title: Feasibility of patient and peer surveys for Maintenance of Certification among diplomates of the American Board of Anesthesiology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The initial developmental standards for Maintenance of Certification programs proposed by the American Board of Medical Specialties included the administration of patient and peer surveys by the diplomate every 5 years. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program (MOCA) patient and peer surveys in a selected group of American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) diplomates.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design was a pilot test of survey instruments-MOCA Patient Care Survey and MOCA Peer Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting was the ABA, Raleigh, NC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were ABA-certified anesthesiologists who were active examiners for the primary certification oral examination as of January 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one participating physicians in the patient survey group distributed brochures, which included a link to the MOCA Patient Care Survey, to up to 100 consecutive patients at the point of care. Fifty-one participating physicians in the peer survey group distributed invitations to MOCA Peer Survey via e-mail to 20 peers in a variety of roles. Participants developed and evaluated a practice improvement plan based on survey results. Participants were also surveyed on their opinions on the feasibility of implementing the piloted survey instrument in their practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates for the patient care and the peer surveys were 15% and 75%, respectively. Both surveys indicated a high level of satisfaction with the diplomates; approximately two-thirds of physicians could not identify practice areas in need of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that threats to the validity of these surveys include distribution bias for peer surveys and response bias for patient surveys and that surveys often do not provide actionable information useful for practice improvement. Alternative approaches, such as including anesthesiologists within an integrated institutional evaluation system, could be explored to maximize the benefits of physician assessments provided by peers and patients.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; The American Board of Anesthesiology, Inc, 4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1500, Raleigh, NC 27609, USA. Electronic address: warner.david@mayo.edu.
authors: David O
authors: DO
authors: Warner
authors: The American Board of Anesthesiology, Inc, 4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1500, Raleigh, NC 27609, USA.
authors: Huaping
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: The American Board of Anesthesiology, Inc, 4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1500, Raleigh, NC 27609, USA.
authors: Ann E
authors: AE
authors: Harman
authors: The American Board of Anesthesiology, Inc, 4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1500, Raleigh, NC 27609, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors: Deborah J
authors: DJ
authors: Culley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013044:Specialty Boards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA); MOCA Patient Care Survey; MOCA Peer Survey; Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program (MOCA)