Multi Source Feedback (MSF)
Article by Dr Shyamal Chatterjee, Locality Lead GP Appraiser

For the purpose of Revalidation all doctors at the moment are to participate in an externally validated MSF. According to NHS Revalidation Support Team (RST) communiqué of September 2009, participation and reflection on Multi Source Feedback (MSF) will be an integral part of the evidence base required to allow doctors to progress towards revalidation. MSF has not yet been finally confirmed by the GMC as being a necessary step for revalidation.

Currently various pilots are being carried out by different organisations ranging from GMC, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Universities to commercial organisations. Most of these consist of anonymous web based “tick-box” responses to questions (ranging from 10 to 46) with some free text information which on completion provides a summarised feed back with a selection of free text comments.

RCGP commissioned a study of some of the MSF tools that are available and their suitability for revalidation. They looked at

• GMC Colleague Questionnaire
• Academy of Medical Royal College MSF ( 360 Clinical)
• Colleague Feedback Evaluation Tool (CFET)
• GP-SPRAT
• 360 Clinical
• Edgecumbe 360
• What is a good GP?

In February 2009 when the data was compiled and published, the tools that were found to reflect important Good Medical Practice (GMP) contents were GP-SPRT, 360 Clinical and GMC Colleague Questionnaire. The most psychometrically robust tools were CFET and GMC Colleague Questionnaire. Based on the results of this review GMC CQ was considered best match with GMP competencies and provided best evidence of reliability and validity. However GMC Colleague Questionnaire is still in its draft stage and has not been finalised for general use.

If an individual GP is considering an MSF using one of the available tools, care must be taken to ensure a robust mechanism is in place to support the GP in discussing and acting on the feed back.

Derbyshire County PCT is involved in a pilot using the 360 Clinical and places are still available but interested candidates must register before December 2010 – see below for details.

Example GP Multi Source Feedback Survey >>
Example Practice Feedback Survey >>

37 Part Funded Places Available - Use it or lose it!

At present the cost of 50% to an Appraisee is £52.29 (inclusive of VAT) with the other 50% being funded by the PCT. Unfortunately PCT funding will not be available after December 2010.

The agreement we have with 360 Clinical allows any places booked prior to December 2010 to receive their place at the reduced price, you do not have to have completed the MSF process before December 2010

So take advantage while you still can!

If you are interested in taking part or would like further information, please contact James Barker on 0115 9316187.

This page was last updated on: 09 March 2011