OBJECTIVE: To explore the utility of peer review (review by fellow interns
or residents in the firm) as an additional method of evaluation in a univer
sity categorical internal medicine residency program.
DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: Senior residents and interns were asked to complete ev
aluations of interns at the end-of-month ward rotations.
MAIN RESULTS: Response rates for senior residents evaluating 16 interns wer
e 70%; for interns evaluating interns, 35%. Analysis of 177 instruments for
16 interns showed high internal consistency in the evaluations. Factor ana
lysis supported a two-dimensional view of clinical competence. Correlations
between faculty, senior resident, and intern assessments of interns were g
ood, although varied by domain.
CONCLUSIONS:An end-of-year attitude survey found that residents gave high r
atings to the value of feedback from peers.