Abstract

Objectives: To determine if emergency physicians (EPs) are ready to accept 360° feedback, and agreement between self and colleagues’ assessment in a 360° feedback for EPs.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaire to determine acceptability of 360° feedback (n = 43). Each EP completed the Physician Achievement Review self-assessment and approached five colleagues to complete an assessment for him/her.

Results: Thirty-one responded: 77.4% preferred to select their appraisers, 90.3% wanted feedback to be confidential, 58.1% would share feedback with supervisors, but only 35.5% would link feedback to remuneration. Colleagues rated EPs’ holistic management, humanistic aspects and patient communication, and professional relationship with colleagues as weak domains, weaknesses which EPs were only partially aware.

Conclusions: EPs would accept 360° feedback provided that they selected their appraisers and results were confidential. Colleagues reported that EPs were weak in “soft” and system skills.