The final version of the Patient Perspective Survey (PPS): a new tool to improve consultation outcome and patient participation in general practice patients with complex health problems. Doctors' and patients' evaluation and guidelines for clinical use.

Background: The Patient Perspective Survey (PPS) is a new clinical communication tool designed to stimulate patient involvement in the management of complex health problems in general practice and to improve patient and doctor satisfaction with the consultation. The development of this final 38-item version of the PPS has been described elsewhere.

Objective: The aims of this article are to present recommendations for clinical use and how GPs and patients have evaluated this new tool.

Methods: The study material included 159 patients (78% females) with a mean age of 45 years, mainly presenting with longstanding musculoskeletal and psychosocial disorders, selected by 32 GPs. After the PPS-based consultation, both doctor and patient were asked to fill in evaluation forms.

Results: In as many as 55-85% of the consultations' various aspects, it was perceived by the GPs that the use of the survey helped (to some extent, much or very much) in achieving improved clinical communication and a constructive consultation. The most important elements appeared to be stimulation of positive interaction/processes and obtaining new and relevant information. Similar results were found regarding patient evaluation. There was significantly more positive doctor evaluation if the doctor-patient relationship had lasted less than 1 year, and if the patient agreed to prepare a 'plan of action' for a follow-up consultation. Guidelines for clinical use are presented.

Conclusion: We now regard the PPS to be completed for daily clinical use and believe that it has been shown to be a potent tool to improve consultation outcome in the large and challenging group of patients with complex health problems in general practice.