Continuing education and peer review in internal medicine (CEPRIME).

Research in adult education shows that educational initiatives are most effective when they are related to perceived needs. The CEPRIME system was devised as a means of using peer review to reveal the educational needs of physicians. Sixteen physicians volunteered to test the system, by allowing a panel of specialists to review copies of their reports to referring general practitioners. The comments of the reviewers, both commendatory and critical, were referred back to the participants, and their evaluation of the system was sought. Although the method was found to have limitations relating both to the adequacy of the report as a document for review, and to the objectivity and relevance of the comments made about it, the results were such as to encourage further development of CEPRIME as a means of appraising physicians of their specific educational needs.