Robert Bracchi wrote:
>
> Question:
> How long will it be before there is a study showing that Nurse Practitioners
> are cheaper, do less investigations,do less referrals and are prefered by
> patients than the average GP?
>
> Answer?
>
> Robert Bracchi
An interesting question.
There was a famous randomised trial in Canada in the early 1970s
(Spitzer WO, et al. The Burlington randomized trial of the nurse
practitioner. (N Engl J Med, 1974 Jan 31)
and I have just found a meta-analysis on Medline. Here is the URL:
http://www.healthgate.com/cgi-bin/HealthGate/library/nph-db-search.cgi?s1=((nurse-practitioners).A06D,A06C.+OR+(nurse+AND+practitioner))+AND+AB=TRUE+AND+LA=ENG+AND+(@YM+%3E=199408)&d=XX02§1=FREE+MEDLINE§2=XOFF§3=PLURON&l=50&p=2&u=/HealthGate/MEDLINE/search.shtml&r=60&f=G&key=96101816
Both these articles show that the evidence does indeed support the
effectiveness, safety and patient-acceptability of independent nurse
practitioners in primary care. I understand the evidence about
cost-effectiveness is arguable - and would certainly depend on the cost
structures where the trials are carried out.
Don't look at these if you don't want to know!
--
Dr John Marwick, NZ Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington, NZ
Home: 12 Konini St, Eastbourne, Lower Hutt, NZ
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