Some of the questions in this version of the questionnaire have been retracted as they may have
copyright problems. Please contact me directly for further information.
Chris McManus
i.mcmanus@ucl.ac.uk
GMC Performance Procedures
Questionnaire
This questionnaire was first distributed to UK doctors in November 1997, and again in
November 1998, November 1999 and September 2000. A report on the first phase of the study
can be found in Quality in Health Care1.
The questionnaire proper is four pages long, with an additional sheet, which was joined to the
main sheet by a perforated edge, so that it could be torn off and the Question and Answer sheet
could be retained, if so desired. There was also a blank page for additional comments.
The original questionnaire is in full colour, and the present file contains a black and white
version of the questionnaire at high resolution, so that the text can be read, and coloured, low
resolution versions of the pages so that the appearance of the questionnaire as distributed can
be assessed.
Chris McManus
March 2001
1
I. C. McManus, D. Gordon, and B. C. Winder. The Duties of a Doctor: UK doctors
and Good Medical Practice. Quality in Health Care 9:14-22, 2000.
5
What is today’s date?
Please indicate
your
IVIKLJ
LRCP
/
qualifications
PhD / DPhil
Ll
0
#f/&g’0
n
AFOM
n
q
DRCOG
n
you describe your current
Main Medical
q
FFOM
FRCA
L.
Are you male 0
FRCGP
FRCOG
diplomas,
FRCPsycb
q
FRCR
u
0
n
FRCS
n
L---
FRCP
cl
MRCPsycb
q
MRCGP
cl
0
MRCOG
n
Other /----
MRCP
I?
Other m
Other II
MFOM
cl
tick here
0
and describe your previous post.
Number
Speciuliq
Level
of sessions
(half duys) per week
I
i
Post(s)
q
etc.)
MPH
LtWl
Medical
or female ?
L--l
post(s) ? If retired or not employed
Post
1
memberships,
-
q
DA
fellowships,
u
-
BDS
Subsidiary
DPH
DPM
-
How would
1What is your year of birth?
(degrees,
L-l
WMSSA
BA /BSc
/ 199
Number
Speciality
of sessions
(half days) per werk
Non-medical
Post(s)
I.euef
Speciality
~
Number
(t&f
at N OntiSn
Have you worked
rimlsrily as a locum
any time during t Re last three yeurs ?
Information
from
the General
Information
from
the BMA
Information
Medical
or other
from Health Authority,
Read about
them
in the quality
Read about
them
in (free)
Read about
them
in the popular
Heard
about
them
by colleagues
Mentioned
by patients
Mentioned
by members
Council
professional
organisation
Trust or Local Medical Committee
medical
medical
journals
newspapers
(BMJ,
etc.)
or magazines
press
at conferences
Mentioned
If Ye for how long in total?
or meetings
in your
own hospital
or practice
Neve7
0 Once
q $2 0
Never
q Once
q zef q
Nwe7
q once
q Zesq
Neuer
0 once
q 23 q
Never
[7 Once
q Ees[7
Neuer
0 Once
q 2~s0
Never 0
Once q $$s 0
Neuer
0 once
0 ZeJ0
Never
of the general
In 1995 as part of Duties of a
Doctor the General Medical
Council published a booklet
called Good Medical Practice
b
public
How much did you
know about Good
Medical Practice before
you received a copy with
the letter telling you
about this
questionnaire?
years
c]
Once
0
szes c]
of sessions
days) per week
month
weeks
Zesq
ZY q
ZL q
&kts0
Eesq
Ee*q
22 0
~~,9q
~~,4q
2: q
ZB q
ZZ q
2zes 17 2::
q
22 q 2,4-q
28+iq
z& q
2iL q
i2rLq
ii&sq
IiL*q
fi:‘,:, q
tiiL 0
zzes c]
y&S 0
2::
0
Ncuer
0 Once
0 Ee*q ZL q 22tq iikaq
Never seen a copy
q
Received a copy but not looked at it
0
Received a copy and glanced at it
Received a copy and looked through
0
it
Received a copy and read it fairly carefilLy
Received a copy and know its contents well
0
0
0
it
b
II
on a&e sh&d be s&cient
reason for the GMC to
Do you a ree
that the 8 MC
should restrict
or remove a
doctor’s
re istration
soPely because
of persistent
and serious
flai we to:
l
l
l
l
solely on that
duty
persistent
serious
Treat every patient
considerately
politely
and
Respect patients’
dignity
Listen to patients
and respect their views
Give patients
and privacy
information
in a way
they can understand
and
“restrict or
remove” includes
striking off
the GMC states
these duties
the are
pro Fessiondl
duties
Wnitelyn
~~~~
$y$%
0
fytz
0
gg
gpy-J
g+$y
0
gg%&
0
pe&q--J
p+Y
0
~$$
0
p&y-J
Respect the rights of patients to be fully
involved in decisions about their care
:;$ni+
ee
Keep their professional
skills up to date
p&y-J
p.$“”
0
f.y$$
u
gi@$q-J
~~~~““0
g-g4
0
g&6&
0
g@&bn
$2””
rJ
~~~
c]
y&q-J
knowledge
and
Recognise the limits of their
professional
competence
Remember:
l
Make the care of the patient their first
concern
0
Make sure that their personal beliefs do 2%&$&e& 0
not prejudice
their patients’ care
Respect and protect
information
Be honest
0
confidential
and trustworthy
Act uickly to protect patients from risk if
they R ave good reason to believe that they
or a colleague may not be fit to practice
~~~jre(YO
~;y%
0
$+$
0
:I
Avoid
as a doctor
@w4~
~~~~
g&e
0
~~~~
0
ge&q
Work with colleagues in ways that best
serve patients’ interests
fy$%n
$~;;;HY
0
g;.&t
0
g@$y
abusing
their position
W;bat have yoou already done
dzcriragthe past year ?
0
0
What are yea considering
dbing daring the next year?
v-e
tick here
q
If me
tick here
q
Ifme
tick here
q
Ifme
tick here
q
Changesin your
Conthtiing Medical
Education (CME)
HOW many, times in the art two ;yearshave you come across
doctors in your own roP~sialaal experience who should or could now
have been considere B under the Performance Procedures?
Never0
Oncen $$!eSo i-&n
$,$$a
$&[7
If you can, please give a brief account of the circumstances of one such case. (Please do not name any names)
What actually happened in this case (whether or not the Performance Procedures then existed), and did you regard it as satisfactory?
Are well understood
Are reassuring the general public
can put its own house in order?
that the medical
profession
Definitely
Agree
Are a reason for doctors to be more defensive in their practice?
DeJ;zite&
Agree
Are principally
window-dressing
politicians
and the media?
Dejnitely
Agree
to stop criticism
Will impair medical morale and disrupt
from
Dejinitely
Agree
doctors’ teamwork?
Make all doctors vulnerable,
since everyone
everyday which might seem deficient?
does something
Dejnitely
Agree
Are unfair to some types of doctor (eg locums, single-handed
practitioners, overseas graduates) ?
De$niteLy
Apee
Are only appropriate
Agfee
for problems
of technical
Will affect GPs the most since hospital
cover each others’ deficiencies?
Cannot be used fairly for problems
behaviour
or communication?
Definite&
competence?
doctors find it easier to T$e;+
of attitude,
interpersonal
Definite4
Agree
Are a desirable step towards the regular re-certification
of doctors?
Definitely
Agree
Make it necessary for doctors
in their colleagues?
Defnitel3,
Agree
to report
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
De$&te&
Agree
by most doctors?
deficient
KJ;T
performance
Probably
Ace
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagtve
Probably
Disagee
Probabb
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
Probably
Disagree
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
D@nite&
Disapee
DefniteJy
Disagree
Dejnitcl,,
Disagree
Definitely
Disagree
Defniteb
Disagme
DeJinitely
Disagree
De$niteb
Disagree
DeJinitely
Disagree
Dejhite~
Disagree
Definite&
Disagree
DefhiteJy
Disagree
Definitely
Disagree
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
0
0
~G(I
0
zz”
[?
$6;
[7
&$!
0
!&a
0
Neuev
[7
2;”
0
iga
0
zz”
[?
%k;
0
k$zf
0
:%&?a 0
Never
0
2;”
0
zfa
0
zz
a i]
$&z$
0
i;~if
c]
$ga
0
Never
0
$$jy
0
$&a
0
zz”
0
k.&g
n
iz!
17 ${:a
0
Never 0
iii”
0
$&a
0
zz”
0
2,;
0
8::
0
0
Never
27
0$&a
2;~
nzza
nz[%
i]$%/
0~6
ga
nNme+r
0
0
Definite&
AiFe
cl
is one of the :~J$$Y
e
When I am uncertain of a diagnosis I share that
information with patients
I find not being sure of what is best for a patient
most stressful part,s of being a doctor
I listen attentively
to everything
I have chosen (or will choose)
uncertainties
of natient care
my patients say
a speciality
that minimises
the
I always
when I do not know a patient’s
treat every
patient
as an individual
I never tell other doctors about mistakes I have made in
patient care
~~”
Probably
Agree
Agree
Definitely
Agree
Probably
Agree
cl
q
cl
took an excessively
0
Much more
than usual
0
&neas
w.aI
n
~~~~~~
0
~$$“”
0
Much less
capable
0
Same as
0
Less so than
usual
0
Rather more
than usual
q
~;~;glre
than
wd q
cl 2a?bmmZf
cl
usual
No mare
cl
0
22
0
No more
than u.d
No more
than usual
q
E’i* than 0
0
cl
as
than usual
0
21rb
less
0
0
0
than usual
0
~~~~~I~
tl
Much more
than usual
Much more
than usual
0
~sb~~$me
0
Less
usualSothan
0
Much
less
than usual
0
•1
more
0
0
minutes
Definitely
ee
e yh+
again in a year or
&ihite&
J&Fe
0
Probably
Agree
0
Probably
Disagree
El
baby
c]
0
Probably
Agree
q
q
or this questionnaire,
Prohab1y
JQ-@
Ll
Please return the questionnaire in
the enclosed FREEPOST envelope
I C McManus
MAMB
CIIB MD PIID
P&ssorofI$&~andMe&calJ?duc&on
Un&sityColl~LondonMedical!3chool,
CHIME, Whittington Hospital,
FREEPOST LON 11171,
London N19 5BR
Definite4
17
Duagree
&i$$~
B@&brJ
Probably
Disagree
0
Definitely
Dzsagree
cl
El
Definite&
Dzsagree
0
Prqbabty
Dtsagree
cl
please write them here.
will be kept strictly confidential,
and will not be made known to any persons,
including the offtcers and members of the
General Medical Council, and will not be
disclosed or published, except in an aggregated
or anonymised form in which individuals cannot
be identified.
0
~a~~~I~
Phse continue on a sepnmte sheet (or the back
questionnaire
0
~a~b~~
No
than c]
for research purposes
The contents of this questionnaire are entirely
for research and evaluation of the effectiveness of
the GMC’s Performance Procedures. The
0
$$‘&I
0
The questionnaire
Procedures
Much more
than usual
Rather more
than usual
Definitely
Agree
about the Performance
0
Less able
%
If you have any comments
0
Rather more
than usual
An u reas nable amount. of pressure was put upon me to
camp 9 ete tR e questtonnatre
I am willing to complete a similar questionnaire
two’s time
q
0
More so than
usual
long time to complete
is likely to be worthwhile
0
Dejinitedy
Dhagree
No more
than usual
How long did it take you to complete the questionnaire?
The questionnaire
Definitely
Disagree
0
2”
so-so
0
[?
0
at all
4Fe
0
MU’
lesr
than usual
f&T tban
Not
cl
Probably
Disagree
l
Dejhitely
Disagree
c]
No more
than usual
Not at all
Probably
Disagree
Definitely
Disagree
Less
than
UsuaI
ci
Not at all
0
Probably
q
q
0
0
Not at all
Probab&
Disagree
Probably
Disagwe
Probably
Agree
Probably
Agree
0
D&nitely
Disagree
Disagree
0
Dejniteb
Disagree
$2”
than 0
Not at all
q
q
q
More so than
USUd
Disagree
Probably
&e
Not at all
De$%itely
Disagree
Definite&
Defniteb
z:F rhan
Probably
Probably
Disagree
Definite&
Agre
Dejniteb
Agree
diagnosis
q
Probably
Agree
I
I am frustrated
Pmbab&
Agree
1
of the information
sheet) ;fjiou wish
Further
comments:
The Performance
Procedures introduced
in July 1997 as a result of the Medical Act of 1995 are the biggest changes
in the regulation
of British doctors in 150 years. As a unique innovation
they are being carefully watched
internationallv.
The GMC recosnises the imnortance
of their formal evaluation.
The GMC
is sponsoring several studies of the Performance
The research leaders are independent,
Chris McManus,
College London
university-based
who is medically
Medical School
qualified,
Procedures, and is also actively looking for external financial support.
academics and their assistants are funded through grants to universities
and is Professor
of Psychology
To assess the impact of the Performance
procedures on doctors
practice and to assess their attitudes to the Procedures.
working
and Medical
Education
in the UK, to monitor
at University
changes in their
Starting in 1997, representative
samples of doctors from the UK Medical Register are being asked to complete
enclosed questionnaire.
Some doctors will also be asked to help in more detailed qualitative
studies. In a
UD in a couole
of Years time.
lonrzitudinal
studv some earlier resoondents
will be followed
The full study is assessing changes occurring
because of the Performance
Procedures,
three or four years. However we hope interim results will be available sooner.
the
and will not be finished
In the first year 800 doctors have been asked to help. They are a random sample from
Medical Register, stratified by age, sex, type of practice and place of qualification.
the 175,000
Please still answer
as many questions
a lot in their knowledge.
We think
10 and 30 minutes,
between
as possible.
although
We are aware that doctors
we realise some people
may differ
prefer
to consider
questions
doctors
for
on the
more carefully.
Of course not. Participation is voluntary, although we hope you will help. If you are unhappy with just some
questions, leave them blank. If you don’t want to participate, please say so, and we will not send any further reminders.
No. The reason is simple. We are looking for than e and wish to re-contact some respondents
We hope you will understand
this constraint,
whit a is a frequent one in medical research.
The questionnaire’s
confidentiality
is assured by the Data Protection
code numbers, not names. Publications
will only describe aggregated
in a few years time.
Act of 1984. The questionnaires
data or anonymised
comments.
have only
No. This is a research project and standard research ethics apply. The President, Council and officers of the GMC
will have no access at all to the questionnaires.
The questionnaire
should be returned to the researcher’s academic
address and not to the GMC. The researcher workers are universitv
emulovees not GMC employees.
We are afraid
not. We appeal instead to your professionalism
and your recognition
that the Procedures
The Performance
Procedures may affect all doctors. This study to assess the views of a representative
doctors will be most successful if all of those requested can find the time to help.
We will submit
the findings
to a major
international
medical
journal.
are important.
sample of all