General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ)

The GPPAQ is a validated screening tool for use in primary care that can be used to assess adult (16-74 years) physical activity levels.
It generates a simple, 4-level Physical Activity Index (PAI) categorising patients as: Active, Moderately Active, Moderately Inactive, and Inactive.

All patients who receive a score less than "Active" should be offered a brief intervention supporting behaviour change to increase their physical activity. It can be used as part of the NHS Health Check programme to assess people's risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes.

The appropriate PAI Read Codes should be used if entering PAI data into the clinical record.²

Questions concerning Walking, Housework/Childcare and Gardening/DIY have been included to allow patients to record their physical activity in these categories; however, these questions have not been shown to yield data of a sufficient reliability to contribute to an understanding of overall physical activity levels. They are not used in the generation of the PAI. ¹

The GPPAQ is ©Crown copyright.

1. The General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ), Department of Health, 2006
2. GPPAQ Publication Update (May 09), Eastern Region Public Health Observatory (NHS)

• General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (in pdf format) for use as a handout.