Julie J Lanz, Paul Gregory*, Larry Harmon
Objective: With a growing number of foreign-trained physicians joining the United States workforce, there is a need to assess their job performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential for rater biases in a 360-degree, multisource competency assessment for physicians related to demographic protected class status (gender, country of training, native language, and age).
Methods: We conducted a non-experimental retrospective analysis on physicians working in the United States (n=258) who participated in a physician assessment and education program.
Results: There were no significant differences in raters’ perceptions at the scale level of overall teamwork, motivating or discouraging behaviors, technical practice, and patient interactions, nor the item level based on demographic differences.
Conclusion: The PULSE 360 can be used to evaluate physician performance without bias concerns due to demographic differences including gender, country of physician medical training, physician native language, and age.