Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background The mounting pressure on the Australian healthcare system is driving a continual exploration of areas to improve patient care and access and to maximize utilization of our workforce. We hypothesized that there would be support by anesthetists employed at our hospital for the desi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Human Resources for Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-020-0458-1 |
| _version_ | 1828332726104621056 |
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| author | L. Weinberg H. Grover D. Cowie E. Langley M. Heland D. A. Story |
| author_facet | L. Weinberg H. Grover D. Cowie E. Langley M. Heland D. A. Story |
| author_sort | L. Weinberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The mounting pressure on the Australian healthcare system is driving a continual exploration of areas to improve patient care and access and to maximize utilization of our workforce. We hypothesized that there would be support by anesthetists employed at our hospital for the design, development, and potential implementation of an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner (NP) model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed methods study to ascertain the attitudes and acceptability of anesthetists towards a proposed anesthesia-led NP model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. An online survey using commercial software and theoretical questions pertaining to participants’ attitudes towards an anesthesia-led NP model was e-mailed to consultant anesthetists. Participants were also invited to participate in a voluntary 20-min face-to-face interview. Results A total of 60 survey responses were received from a pool of 100 anesthetists (response rate = 60%, accounting for 8.04% margin of error). Despite the theoretical benefits of improved patient access to colonoscopy services, most anesthetists were not willing to participate in the supervision and training of NPs. The predominant themes underlying their lack of support for the program were a perception that patient safety would be compromised compared to the current model of anesthesia-led care, the model does not meet the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists guidelines for procedural sedation and analgesia, and the program may be a public liability prone to litigation in the event of an adverse outcome. Concerns about consumer acceptance and cost-effectiveness were also raised. Finally, participants thought the model should be pilot tested to better understand consumer attitudes, logistical feasibility, patient and proceduralist attitudes, clinical governance, and, importantly, patient safety. Conclusions Most anesthetists working in a single-center university hospital did not support an anesthesia-led NP model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. Patient safety, violations of the current Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists guidelines on procedural sedation, and logistical feasibility were significant barriers to the acceptance of the model. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, 12619001036101 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:10:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a126eeddb2044f9b9333d92c79338fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4491 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T21:10:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Resources for Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a126eeddb2044f9b9333d92c79338fe2022-12-22T02:29:51ZengBMCHuman Resources for Health1478-44912020-03-0118111010.1186/s12960-020-0458-1Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional surveyL. Weinberg0H. Grover1D. Cowie2E. Langley3M. Heland4D. A. Story5Department of Anesthesia, Austin HospitalDepartment of Anesthesia, Austin HospitalDepartment of Anesthesia, Austin HospitalDepartment of Anesthesia Perioperative and Pain Medicine Unit, The University of MelbourneDepartment of Anesthesia Perioperative and Pain Medicine Unit, The University of MelbourneCentre for Integrated Critical Care, The University of MelbourneAbstract Background The mounting pressure on the Australian healthcare system is driving a continual exploration of areas to improve patient care and access and to maximize utilization of our workforce. We hypothesized that there would be support by anesthetists employed at our hospital for the design, development, and potential implementation of an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner (NP) model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, mixed methods study to ascertain the attitudes and acceptability of anesthetists towards a proposed anesthesia-led NP model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. An online survey using commercial software and theoretical questions pertaining to participants’ attitudes towards an anesthesia-led NP model was e-mailed to consultant anesthetists. Participants were also invited to participate in a voluntary 20-min face-to-face interview. Results A total of 60 survey responses were received from a pool of 100 anesthetists (response rate = 60%, accounting for 8.04% margin of error). Despite the theoretical benefits of improved patient access to colonoscopy services, most anesthetists were not willing to participate in the supervision and training of NPs. The predominant themes underlying their lack of support for the program were a perception that patient safety would be compromised compared to the current model of anesthesia-led care, the model does not meet the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists guidelines for procedural sedation and analgesia, and the program may be a public liability prone to litigation in the event of an adverse outcome. Concerns about consumer acceptance and cost-effectiveness were also raised. Finally, participants thought the model should be pilot tested to better understand consumer attitudes, logistical feasibility, patient and proceduralist attitudes, clinical governance, and, importantly, patient safety. Conclusions Most anesthetists working in a single-center university hospital did not support an anesthesia-led NP model for low-risk colonoscopy patients. Patient safety, violations of the current Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists guidelines on procedural sedation, and logistical feasibility were significant barriers to the acceptance of the model. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, 12619001036101http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-020-0458-1AnesthetistNurseSedationColonoscopyPropofol |
| spellingShingle | L. Weinberg H. Grover D. Cowie E. Langley M. Heland D. A. Story Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey Human Resources for Health Anesthetist Nurse Sedation Colonoscopy Propofol |
| title | Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia-led nurse practitioner model for low-risk colonoscopy procedures: a cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | attitudes of anesthetists towards an anesthesia led nurse practitioner model for low risk colonoscopy procedures a cross sectional survey |
| topic | Anesthetist Nurse Sedation Colonoscopy Propofol |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12960-020-0458-1 |
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