The study shows that 'enablement' is a primary care outcome measure which is related to but is different from general satisfaction.

Objectives To measure quality of care at general practice consultations in diverse geographical areas, and to determine the principal correlates associated with enablement as an outcome measure. Design Cross sectional multipractice questionnaire based study. Setting Random sample of practices in four participating regions: Lothian, Coventry, Oxfordshire, and west London. Participants 25 994 adults attending 53 practices over two weeks in March and April 1998. Main outcome measures Patient enablement, duration of consultation, how well patients know their doctor, and the size of the practice list.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Objective-To compare prescribing patterns between a group of fundholding practices and a group of non-fundholding practices in north east Scotland using a method which provides more accurate statements about volumes prescribed than standard NHS statistics.

We have outlined possible uses for the CQI as part of the packages assessing quality of care by doctors and practices. The measure may also have a part to play in recognizing poorly performing doctors. We suggest how CQI scores could contribute to an incentive scheme to reward good consulting practice. Further work is in hand to compare doctors' CQI scores with scores based on performance indicators constructed from routine NHS data on prescribing and preventive medicine.

No abstract