Results

Practice Survey

August-September 2003 - on joining proposed GP Charitable Trust Clinic

Aim:
This poll was intended to ascertain the general feeling in my practice population about the decision I needed to make about joining the proposed GP Clinic (or not).

Method:
The pros and cons were listed in the body of my newsletter and the questions were designed to ensure no hint of my preference was identified so that both an informed and non-directed result could be obtained. Patients were given a newsletter when visiting the practice or could access it "on-line" at www.drblayney.com.

However, the Survey was criticised because "disadvantages" were listed (despite the original Feasibility Study survey listing only advantages) and comments such as "misgivings" could have been interpreted as indicating a negative attitude from the GP. Further criticism related to the complex instructions. Therefore the wording Practice Newsletter was modified so that the "Advantages" and "Disadvantages" given before the patient survey gave no hint of any preference by the GP. The questions make it easier, if anything to support a move (if positive answers were given to the first two questions).

As few issues are "black and white", answers could be anywhere from "Agree" (=1) to "disagree" (=5) or any in between grades of 2-4. For ease of interpretation, results were electronically converted to a 0-4 scale during analysis.

Results:
The 1^st Survey (July-August) [Poll1] had 77 replies where at least one question was answered, and the 2^nd Survey (August-September) [Poll2] had 71 replies of at least one question answered.

Av. Age: Poll1=58; Poll2=59; Poll1+2=58.5 Sex: Poll1=56.8% M, 43.2% F; Poll2= 31% M,49% F; Poll1+2= 44.1% M, 55.9% F.

Question	Poll1				Poll2				Combined
0=agree 4=disgree	Av 0-4	% A g r e e	% D i s a g r e e	A n s w e r s	Av 0-4	% A g r e e	% D i s a g r e e	A n s w e r s	Av 0-4	% A g r e e	% D i s a g r e e	A n s w e r s
[A] I support a move to a "One Stop Shop" GP Trust Clinic	3.4	15.1%	84.9%	68	3.39	15.3%	84.7%	67	3.5	15%	85%	135
[B] I would move to the clinic, even if Dr Blayney didn't	3.81	4.8%	95.2%	68	3.74	6.6%	93.4%	68	3.77	5.7%	94.3%	136
[C] I wish to see Dr Blayney at the current site even if fees were higher than at the GP Trust Clinic	0.56	86%	14%	77	0.68	83.1%	16.9%	71	0.61	84.6%	15.4%	148

Conclusions:

There were no significant differences between the answers from the two polls, indicating that the information provided and the complexity of the instructions did not affect the outcome (probably not read!).
There was only a 15% agreement on a move to the GP Trust Clinic (85% against).
There was a 94% expression of loyalty to the GP if he stayed.
There was an 85% wish to be seen at the present site despite the possibility of higher fees than the clinic. This figure is likely to underestimate the support as a number of patients answered question "C" with a "5" when they had given "5" to questions "A" & "B".
148 replies represents approximately 7.4% of my total practice, which is significantly better than the 0.26% response achieved by the Feasibility Study survey, and therefore far more representative of my patients' wishes.