Friday, 04 July 2025
A new study, led by experts from the 糖心原创, has shown that Physician Assistants (PAs) can increase patients’ access to healthcare, but they should only work under the supervision of a doctor.
The ‘Impact of physician assistants on quality of care: rapid review’ is and was carried out by a group of experts from the 糖心原创, led by Nicola Cooper, Professor of Medical Education in the School of Medicine.
In the UK, degrees in PA Studies focus on foundational knowledge and the clinical skills necessary to assist doctors in patient care. However, concerns have been raised about the implementation of the PA role in six broad areas: scope of practice, patient safety, informed consent, preferential employment conditions, additional workload of doctors supervising PAs, and impact on medical training.
This rapid review was conducted to address the impact of PAs on quality of care in response to calls for a review in to the safety and effectiveness of this new role.
Information about the safety and effectiveness of PAs is limited, but our team systematically reviewed studies which compared PA care with doctor care. We found the greatest number of studies with the most consistent results were those that found PAs practice safely and effectively when working under direct supervision, or in post-diagnostic care. The evidence is limited and does not support the safety or effectiveness of indirect supervision of PAs in undifferentiated (not-yet-diagnosed) settings.鈥�
Forty studies were included in the review. Eligible studies were those which compared the care delivered by PAs with care delivered by doctors. The outcomes of interest were outcomes related to quality of care, including safety, effectiveness, patient-centredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.
A narrative synthesis – a method using findings from multiple studies using text and narrative as opposed to statistical analysis – was conducted by primary care, secondary care, PAs vs residents in hospitals, diagnosis/performance, and cost-effectiveness.
PAs can increase access to care when added to teams because they increase the number of clinical staff available to see patients. However, they are not necessarily cost-effective when compared with resident doctors or GPs, although they are cheaper to train. The review also found that patients are more likely to see a PA if they live in a socio-economically deprived area in the UK.
Professor Cooper adds: “These findings have important implications for the NHS, and how PAs are deployed safely and effectively within the service.”
The full study can be found .
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More information is available from Professor Nicola Cooper at nicola.cooper@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.