GPAQ-R2 and GPAQ-R (piloted as GPAQ V4) have been developed to meet practice needs for patient surveys, GMC requirements for individual GP Revalidation, and now GPAQ-R2 includes the ‘Friends and Family’ test. Many practices are familiar with GPAQ, will want to use GPAQ again, particularly as it covers all practice patient survey requirements.

GPAQ was introduced after the 2004 GP contract as one of two questionnaires approved as part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework. It was replaced by the national GP Patient Survey run by IPSOS MORI in 2008, though a number of practices continued to use GPAQ for their own purposes.

GPAQ was further developed to include changes GPs might want to see, following the 2011 GP contract for the Directed Enhanced Service (DES) requirement for Patient Participation which included collecting patients’ views through a local survey,  in GPAQ-R, included the elements for GP revalidation, and in GPAQ-R2 the overall satisfaction question (Q41) was re-worded to cover the ‘Friends and Family’ test.

In its usual short four side format, GPAQ continues to ask about receptionists, appointments, opening times, communication with doctors and nurses, continuity of care and enablement. Whereas there were previously versions to send to patients by post and to use as an ‘exit survey’ after consultations, these have now been merged into one version which can be used either in surgery or, if required, as a postal questionnaire.

Details of the GPAQ-R development and psychometric properties are given in the BMC Family Practice paper.