GRx survey
SPARC contracted an independent research consultant to monitor how successful the GRx programme has been, from both a patient and referrer (GP or practice nurse) perspective.
Where appropriate, comparisons with previous research are made within the final reports, and significant differences highlighted.
For full copies of the final results, please email Diana_ONeill@moh.govt.nz
The three different surveys undertaken are explained below.
GRx Patient Survey
SPARC carried out six-monthly patient surveys up to 2000 (using CAPI Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews), and has carried out annual surveys since 2001 (using self-completion surveys).
Some of the key questions explored in these surveys are:
- Main health reasons why doctors prescribe a GRx to their patients
- What physical activities are prescribed by GPs
- Have patients noticed any health changes and if so, what changes
- What is the current status of their GRx - are they still active after 6 to 8 months
- How much time do patients now spend doing physical activity
- How many days a week are patients doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity
- Have patients made any changes to their diet
- What activities were suggested by the patient support person
- What was their opinion about the service received
- Did they take up the activities suggested by the patient support person
- Were they satisfied with the overall level of patient support service
- Who are they active with (eg, partner, family, children, friends etc).
GRx GP Survey
Since 1998, SPARC has carried out six-monthly surveys on the level of uptake of GRx, and to assess progress. Annual self-completion surveys have been conducted since November 2003, to ensure GPs were not 'over surveyed'.
Some of the key questions explored in these surveys are:
- GPs' awareness and use of GRx
- GPs' level of reviewing patient progress
- Role of practice nurses in prescribing GRx
- GRx resources and information provided to GPs, and its usefulness
- What advice about healthy eating is given by GPs
- What would encourage greater use of GRx
- GPs' attitude toward physical activity messages.
GRx Practice Nurse Survey
Informal feedback from annual GP surveys suggested that practice nurses play an increasingly important role in the GRx process. Practice nurses were surveyed for the first time in April 2005. The results from this survey provided a benchmark to measure progress and report to the government and Pharmac.
Some of the key questions explored in this survey are:
- Practice nurses' awareness and use of GRx
- Practice nurses' level of reviewing patient progress
- GRx resources and information provided to practice nurses, and its usefulness
- What advice about healthy eating is given by practice nurses
- What would encourage greater use of GRx
- Practice nurses' attitude toward activity messages.
Updated | 11 Dec 2009.
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