Responses of rural family physicians and their colleague and coworker raters to a multi-source feedback process: A pilot study

Purpose. To describe responses of family physicians, their medical colleagues, and coworker raters to a multisource feedback assessment process. Method. Data collection tools included multisource feedback self,assessment and medical colleague, coworker, and patient rating forms; and program evaluation physician and rater questionnaires. Results. The pilot study included 142 physicians and their raters, with 113 (80%) physicians completing evaluations. Positive correlations were found between familiarity scores and medical colleague and coworker mean ratings. Peer medical colleagues were significantly more familiar with physicians than were consultants. Consultants were unable to rate items most frequently. Physicians disagreed with colleague feedback more frequently. Agreement was positively correlated with scores. Conclusions. Familiarity, ability to observe physicians appropriately to rate them, and physicians' responses to feedback are factors to consider when multisource feedback is used.