Comparing the cost of nurse practitioners and GPs in primary care: modelling economic data from randomised trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The role of nurse practitioners in primary care has recently expanded. While there are some outcome data available for different types of consultations, little is known about the relative cost.

Aim

To compare the cost of primary care provided by nurse practitioners with that of salaried GPs.

Design of study

Synthesis, modelling, and analysis of published data from the perspective of general practices and the NHS.

Data sources

Two published randomised controlled trials.

Method

A dataset of resource use for a simulated group of patients in a typical consultation was modelled. Current unit costs were used to obtain a consensus mean cost per consultation.

Results

Mean cost of a nurse practitioner consultation was estimated at 9.46 UK pounds

SUBMITTER: Hollinghurst S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1872064 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature