Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

Introduction Task-shifting from primary care physicians (PCPs) to nurses is one option to better and more efficiently meet the needs of the population in primary care and to overcome PCP shortages. This protocol outlines an overview of systematic reviews to assess the effects of delegation or substi...

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Main Authors: Klaus Jeitler, Thomas Semlitsch, Andrea Siebenhofer, Nicole Posch, Christina Radl-Karimi, Ulrike Spary-Kainz, Muna Paier-Abuzahra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-03-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e078414.full
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author Klaus Jeitler
Thomas Semlitsch
Andrea Siebenhofer
Nicole Posch
Christina Radl-Karimi
Ulrike Spary-Kainz
Muna Paier-Abuzahra
author_facet Klaus Jeitler
Thomas Semlitsch
Andrea Siebenhofer
Nicole Posch
Christina Radl-Karimi
Ulrike Spary-Kainz
Muna Paier-Abuzahra
author_sort Klaus Jeitler
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Task-shifting from primary care physicians (PCPs) to nurses is one option to better and more efficiently meet the needs of the population in primary care and to overcome PCP shortages. This protocol outlines an overview of systematic reviews to assess the effects of delegation or substitution by nurses of PCPs’ activities regarding clinical, patient-relevant, professional and health services-related outcomes.Methods and analysis We will conduct a systematic literature search for secondary literature in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane databases. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and Health Technology Assessments in German and English comprising randomised controlled trials and prospective controlled trials will be considered for inclusion. Search terms will include Medical Subject Headings combined with free text words. At least one-third of abstracts and full-text articles are reviewed by two independent reviewers. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire. We will only consider reviews if they include controlled trials, if the profession that substituted or delegated tasks was a nurse, if the profession of the control was a PCP, if the assessed intervention was the same in the intervention and control group and if the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire score is ≥5. The corrected covered area will be calculated to describe the degree of overlap of studies in the reviews included in the study. We will report the overview according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ethics and dissemination The overview of secondary literature does not require the approval of an Ethics Committee and will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020183327.
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spelling doaj.art-2b4720e629cc4773ab390a6f075a91fd2024-03-09T02:50:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-03-0114310.1136/bmjopen-2023-078414Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviewsKlaus Jeitler0Thomas Semlitsch1Andrea Siebenhofer2Nicole Posch3Christina Radl-Karimi4Ulrike Spary-Kainz5Muna Paier-Abuzahra6EBM Review Center, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria2 Institute of General Practice and Evidence-based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaInstitute of General Practice and Evidence-based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaInstitute of General Practice and Evidence-Based Health Services Research, Medizinische Universitat Graz, Graz, Austria1 Centre for Quality, Region of Southern Denmark, Middelfart, Denmark1Institute of General Practice and Evidence-based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria, Graz, Austria3Institute of General Practice and Evidence-Based Health Services Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaIntroduction Task-shifting from primary care physicians (PCPs) to nurses is one option to better and more efficiently meet the needs of the population in primary care and to overcome PCP shortages. This protocol outlines an overview of systematic reviews to assess the effects of delegation or substitution by nurses of PCPs’ activities regarding clinical, patient-relevant, professional and health services-related outcomes.Methods and analysis We will conduct a systematic literature search for secondary literature in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane databases. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and Health Technology Assessments in German and English comprising randomised controlled trials and prospective controlled trials will be considered for inclusion. Search terms will include Medical Subject Headings combined with free text words. At least one-third of abstracts and full-text articles are reviewed by two independent reviewers. Methodological quality will be assessed using the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire. We will only consider reviews if they include controlled trials, if the profession that substituted or delegated tasks was a nurse, if the profession of the control was a PCP, if the assessed intervention was the same in the intervention and control group and if the Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire score is ≥5. The corrected covered area will be calculated to describe the degree of overlap of studies in the reviews included in the study. We will report the overview according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ethics and dissemination The overview of secondary literature does not require the approval of an Ethics Committee and will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020183327.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e078414.full
spellingShingle Klaus Jeitler
Thomas Semlitsch
Andrea Siebenhofer
Nicole Posch
Christina Radl-Karimi
Ulrike Spary-Kainz
Muna Paier-Abuzahra
Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
BMJ Open
title Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
title_full Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
title_fullStr Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
title_full_unstemmed Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
title_short Effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
title_sort effects of task shifting from primary care physicians to nurses a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e078414.full
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