OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pilot peer review scheme for general dental practitioners, working in the general dental services in England. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a 50% random sample of end of project résumés. SETTING: The scheme was piloted from August 1991 to April 1996. At the end of each project a résumé was completed. METHODS: The random sample of résumés was subjected to content analysis by three reviewers who had previously undergone consistency training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The range of topics reviewed, the choice of single or multiple topics, the direct relevance of projects to patient care and the comments of the scheme's participants. RESULTS: 332 résumés were analysed, 89% included positive comments. Overall 42% of projects reviewed single topics, with participants in 4 out of 13 regions favouring this approach. 61% of topics related directly to patient care. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot peer review scheme was enthusiastically welcomed by the participants and achieved its objectives of encouraging initiatives to improve patient services and testing different types of peer review.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pilot peer review scheme for general dental practitioners, working in the general dental services in England. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a 50% random sample of end of project résumés. SETTING: The scheme was piloted from August 1991 to April 1996. At the end of each project a résumé was completed. METHODS: The random sample of résumés was subjected to content analysis by three reviewers who had previously undergone consistency training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The range of topics reviewed, the choice of single or multiple topics, the direct relevance of projects to patient care and the comments of the scheme's participants. RESULTS: 332 résumés were analysed, 89% included positive comments. Overall 42% of projects reviewed single topics, with participants in 4 out of 13 regions favouring this approach. 61% of topics related directly to patient care. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot peer review scheme was enthusiastically welcomed by the participants and achieved its objectives of encouraging initiatives to improve patient services and testing different types of peer review.