Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention

Abstract Background Physician associates (PAs) are one of many new mid‐level health practitioner roles being introduced worldwide. They are a recent innovation in English hospitals. Patient confusion with novel mid‐level practitioner titles and roles is well documented, alongside evidence of a posit...

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Main Authors: Francesca Taylor, Jonathan Ogidi, Rakhee Chauhan, Zeena Ladva, Sally Brearley, Vari M. Drennan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-02-01
Series:Health Expectations
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13149
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spelling doaj-6edd55282e024be79aaa43ad112cdd8d2021-02-12T11:52:45ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252021-02-01241778610.1111/hex.13149Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based interventionFrancesca Taylor0Jonathan Ogidi1Rakhee Chauhan2Zeena Ladva3Sally Brearley4Vari M. Drennan5Joint Faculty of Kingston University and St George’s University of London, St George's University of London London UKSt George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust London UKJoint Faculty of Kingston University and St George’s University of London, St George's University of London London UKJoint Faculty of Kingston University and St George’s University of London, St George's University of London London UKAbstract Background Physician associates (PAs) are one of many new mid‐level health practitioner roles being introduced worldwide. They are a recent innovation in English hospitals. Patient confusion with novel mid‐level practitioner titles and roles is well documented, alongside evidence of a positive association between patients’ ability to identify practitioners and patient satisfaction. No prior research developed an intervention to introduce PAs or any other new practitioner role to hospital patients. Objective To develop, with patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), an intervention for introducing the PA role to hospital patients, and to test feasibility. Methods Intervention development was underpinned by an experience‐based co‐design approach. Workshop participants generated ideas for introducing PAs, subsequently explored in semi‐structured interviews with hospital patients (n = 13). Interview findings were used by participants in a second workshop to design the intervention. Feasibility of the intervention was assessed in relation to its acceptability and efficacy using semi‐structured interviews with hospital patients (n = 20) and PAs (n = 3). Results The intervention developed was a patient information leaflet. It was considered feasible to use in the hospital setting, helpful to patients in understanding the PA role and acceptable to both patients and PAs. The intervention was also appreciated by patients for providing reassurance of care and support. Conclusions An experience‐based co‐design approach enabled development of an intervention tailored to patients’ experiential preferences. Positive evidence of feasibility and utility is encouraging, supporting future larger‐scale testing. Patient and public contribution PPIE representatives were involved in the study design, intervention development and data interpretation.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13149co‐designhospital patient informationpatient and public involvementpatient experiencephysician assistantsphysician associates
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Francesca Taylor
Jonathan Ogidi
Rakhee Chauhan
Zeena Ladva
Sally Brearley
Vari M. Drennan
spellingShingle Francesca Taylor
Jonathan Ogidi
Rakhee Chauhan
Zeena Ladva
Sally Brearley
Vari M. Drennan
Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
Health Expectations
co‐design
hospital patient information
patient and public involvement
patient experience
physician assistants
physician associates
author_facet Francesca Taylor
Jonathan Ogidi
Rakhee Chauhan
Zeena Ladva
Sally Brearley
Vari M. Drennan
author_sort Francesca Taylor
title Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
title_short Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
title_full Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
title_fullStr Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
title_full_unstemmed Introducing physician associates to hospital patients: Development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
title_sort introducing physician associates to hospital patients: development and feasibility testing of a patient experience‐based intervention
publisher Wiley
series Health Expectations
issn 1369-6513
1369-7625
publishDate 2021-02-01
description Abstract Background Physician associates (PAs) are one of many new mid‐level health practitioner roles being introduced worldwide. They are a recent innovation in English hospitals. Patient confusion with novel mid‐level practitioner titles and roles is well documented, alongside evidence of a positive association between patients’ ability to identify practitioners and patient satisfaction. No prior research developed an intervention to introduce PAs or any other new practitioner role to hospital patients. Objective To develop, with patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), an intervention for introducing the PA role to hospital patients, and to test feasibility. Methods Intervention development was underpinned by an experience‐based co‐design approach. Workshop participants generated ideas for introducing PAs, subsequently explored in semi‐structured interviews with hospital patients (n = 13). Interview findings were used by participants in a second workshop to design the intervention. Feasibility of the intervention was assessed in relation to its acceptability and efficacy using semi‐structured interviews with hospital patients (n = 20) and PAs (n = 3). Results The intervention developed was a patient information leaflet. It was considered feasible to use in the hospital setting, helpful to patients in understanding the PA role and acceptable to both patients and PAs. The intervention was also appreciated by patients for providing reassurance of care and support. Conclusions An experience‐based co‐design approach enabled development of an intervention tailored to patients’ experiential preferences. Positive evidence of feasibility and utility is encouraging, supporting future larger‐scale testing. Patient and public contribution PPIE representatives were involved in the study design, intervention development and data interpretation.
topic co‐design
hospital patient information
patient and public involvement
patient experience
physician assistants
physician associates
url https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13149
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