Physicians and nurse practitioners: do they provide equivalent health care?

Systematic review of whether nurse practitioners working in primary care can provide equivalent care to doctors.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether nurse practitioners can provide care at first point of contact equivalent to doctors in a primary care setting. DESIGN Systematic review of randomised controlled trials and prospective observational studies. DATA SOURCES Cochrane controlled trials register, specialist register of trials maintained by Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group, ...

Nurse Practitioners and Men’s Primary Health Care

Though life expectancy sex differences are decreasing in many Western countries, men experience higher mortality rates at all ages. Men are often reluctant to seek medical care because health help-seeking is strongly linked to femininity, male weakness, and vulnerability. Many men are also more likely to access emergency care services in response to injury and/or severe pain instead of engaging...

Do nurse practitioners pose a threat to family physicians?: YES.

Practice characteristics of primary care nurse practitioners and physicians.

BACKGROUND Projections of physician shortages, an aging population, and insurance expansions have increased interest in expanding the number of primary care nurse practitioners (PCNPs) in the United States. Although information about the number and distribution of nurse practitioners is known, there is little information about the practice characteristics of PCNPs. The purpose of this study was...

Do nurse practitioners pose a threat to family physicians?: NO.

Le Médecin de famille canadien Vol 55: january • janVier 2009 Admittedly, the concept of nurse practitioners is not new. As my colleague states, these professionals were originally created in an attempt to address the shortage of physicians, a shortage that in my view persists. Nurse practitioners have not been a panacea for this problem, which is undermining our profession. She also notes that...