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Published on: February 16, 2011
Measuring patient satisfaction for the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
Matthew Hankins1, Alice Fraser, Andrew Hodson
1Brighton and Hove Medical School, Brighton. m.c.hankins@bsms.ac.uk
Summary
Patient satisfaction questionnaires used in UK general practice lack formal validation. Evidence for the reliability and validity of the Improving Practices Questionnaire and General Practice Assessment Questionnaire is insufficient for QOF contract requirements.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Primary Care
- Patient Experience Measurement
Background:
- The UK's General Medical Services (GMS) contract Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) incentivizes patient satisfaction measurement.
- Two key instruments, the Improving Practices Questionnaire (IPQ) and General Practice Assessment Questionnaire (GPAQ), are used for this purpose.
- The utility of patient satisfaction data hinges on the validity and reliability of the assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the validity and reliability of the IPQ and GPAQ.
- To assess the evidence supporting the use of these questionnaires within the QOF framework.
Main Methods:
- A literature search was conducted for peer-reviewed publications up to June 2006.
- Databases and reference lists were searched for studies assessing IPQ and GPAQ reliability and validity.
- An earlier version, the General Practice Assessment Survey (GPAS), was also considered.
Main Results:
- Limited evidence exists for the IPQ's validity and reliability; only one paper claimed assessment.
- No studies reported on the GPAQ's reliability and validity; three papers assessed the GPAS.
- No published evidence was found validating the IPQ, GPAQ, or GPAS against external criteria; GPAS showed acceptable reliability.
Conclusions:
- The validation of questionnaires used for QOF patient satisfaction assessment appears inadequate.
- The reliability and reproducibility of the mandated instruments remain largely unknown.
- Future patient experience surveys should undergo rigorous piloting for validity and reliability prior to widespread implementation.
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