Characterising the use of the GPPAQ in English primary care

This project will determine the suitability of the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) for assessing physical activity (PA) in primary care.

Background

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Physical activity (PA) is an important contributor to overall health. It is critical to assess PA in primary care, and the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) is the screening tool currently used in English primary care to classify adult patients into physical activity categories. However, it’s not clear whether it is the best brief tool for this kind of assessment or whether it could be improved.  

There is limited research on how consistently or effectively GPPAQ is used in practice, whether it is an appropriate tool for assessment of physical activity, or if it should be modified or replaced by another screening tool. This project will assess the strengths and weaknesses of GPPAQ and compare it against other brief physical assessment tools. 

Aims and Objectives

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The aim of this project is to assess the utility of the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) in determining physical activity in primary care. The objectives are: 

1. To develop criteria by which to judge the effectiveness of different assessment tools 

2. To identify alternative tools to the GPPAQ  

3. To evaluate the suitability of the GPPAQ and other identified tools in assessing PA levels in primary care 

Methodology

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For this project we will consult PA expert academics and general practitioners (GP’s) through semi-structured interviews. Following expert input, we will conduct a rapid evidence review to evaluate GPPAQ and other PA assessment tools identified by the experts. Included tools are required to be specifically designed to assess PA in primary care settings, brief (could be completed in 2-4 minutes), and designed to be inclusive across age, sex, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.  

Findings will summarise the strength and weaknesses of each tool. All tools will be assessed for their validity, reliability, feasibility, acceptability, and inclusivity. Tools will be considered for their ability to categorise individuals as active or inactive.  

Policy Relevance and Dissemination

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The findings will determine the suitability of using GPPAQ against other PA screening tools to assess which may be best for use in primary care. Findings will be shared with the Department of Health and Social Care and support decisions about how physical activity is measured in primary care. This work will inform future policies or guidance related to physical activity screening and prevention. Findings will be disseminated in a policy briefing report and presented at a policy roundtable. 

Timing

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September 2025 - February 2026

 

This work was part of a broader project carried out in collaboration with the Healthy Ageing Policy Research Unit. 

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The NIHR Policy Research Unit in Healthy Weight is part of the NIHR and hosted by UCL.