Feedback of patients' evaluations of general practice care: a randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of feedback of patients' evaluations of care to general practitioners.


METHODS
Randomised trial.


METHODS
General practice in the Netherlands.


METHODS
55 GPs and samples of 3691 and 3595 adult patients before and after the intervention, respectively.


METHODS
GPs in the intervention group were given an individualised structured feedback report concerning evaluations of care provided by their own patients. Reference figures referring to other GPs were added as well as suggestions for interpretation of this feedback, an evidence-based overview of factors determining patients' evaluations of care, and methods to discuss and plan improvements.


METHODS
Patients' evaluations of nine dimensions of general practice measured with the CEP, a previously validated questionnaire consisting of 64 questions, using a six point answering scale (1= poor, 6 = very good).


RESULTS
Mean scores per CEP dimension varied from 3.88 to 4.77. Multilevel regression analysis showed that, after correction for baseline scores, patients' evaluations of continuity and medical care were less positive after the intervention in the intervention group (4.60 v 4.77, p < 0.05 and 4.68 v 4.71, p < 0.05, respectively). No differences were found in the remaining seven CEP dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing feedback on patients' evaluations of care to GPs did not result in changes in their evaluation of the care received. This conclusion challenges the relevance of feedback on patients' evaluations of care for quality improvement.
Vingerhoets
E
E
Centre for Quality of Care Research (WOK), Universities of Nijmegen and Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Wensing
M
M
Grol
R
R
D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011216:Practice Management, Medical / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires