The impact of physician-nurse task shifting in primary care on the course of disease: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Physician-nurse task shifting in primary care appeals greatly to health policymakers. It promises to address workforce shortages and demands of high-quality, affordable care in the healthcare systems of many countries. This systematic review was conducted to assess the evidence about physician-nurse task shifting in primary care in relation to the course of disease and nurses' roles.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library and CINAHL, up to August 2012, and the reference list of included studies and relevant reviews. All searches were updated in February 2014. We selected and critically appraised published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Results

Twelve RCTs comprising 22,617 randomized patients conducted mainly in Europe met the inclu

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Gonzalez NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4493821 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature