RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Experiencing patient-experience surveys: a qualitative study of the accounts of GPs JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP e157 OP e166 DO 10.3399/bjgp11X567072 VO 61 IS 585 A1 Adrian Edwards A1 Richard Evans A1 Paul White A1 Glyn Elwyn YR 2011 UL http://bjgp.org/content/61/585/e157.abstract AB Background Despite policy and financial support for patient-experience surveys as feedback to modify clinical practice, their benefits and other effects remain unclear.Aim This study aimed to examine the perspective of GPs who have engaged with such tools.Method Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 GPs across south Wales, UK. The transcripts were analysed using a constant comparative method.Results The participants regarded patient feedback as highly important but felt that patient-experience surveys, as currently implemented, were hard to interpret. Reflecting on the doctor–patient interaction, participants perceived ambiguity about whether results were evaluating the individual or the GP practice, and whether they were directed towards the ‘practitioner-as-person’ or towards specific behaviours. A potential threat was posed in both interpretations, with the risk of damaging consequences for the practitioner and the nature of general practice. The tension between satisfying patients and performing good health care was a clearly voiced dilemma. Doctors did not feel confident in their ability to change in response to feedback, particularly outside a formal training environment.Conclusion Patient evaluation is seen as a key part of multisource feedback for practising doctors. Clarity is needed about the purpose of evaluation – whether for organisational or personal ‘feedback’, and whether formative or summative – and there is a need for attention to the process, with trained facilitators, to ensure that doctors gain from structured reflection, and can minimise the potential negative effects of evaluation.