Table 1.
Study characteristics
| Studies | Study Design | Data type | Care Setting | Location | Participants | Data Collection Method | Analysis | Overview of Findings | Quality Appraisal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson, Marshall, & Schofield [2017] [27] | Qualitative study | Qualitative | Primary | England | Patients, GPs, ANPs | Focus groups | Thematic analysis | Patients overall lacked understanding of the PA role and expressed confusion over prescribing rights. | High |
| 2 | Shah et al. [2021] [28] | Survey design | Quantitative, qualitative | Secondary | England | Patients | Patient feedback survey | Descriptive | Patient-centred survey found views on PAs were very positive. | Low |
| 3 | Taylor et al. [2020] [29] | Interpretive methodology | Qualitative | Secondary | England | Patients, PAs | Semi-structured interviews | Thematic Analysis | Tested feasibility of leaflet introducing PAs. Results positive. | High |
| 4 | Taylor, Halter, & Drennan [2019] [30] | Qualitative study | Qualitative | Secondary | England | Patients, representatives of patients | Semi-structured interviews | Thematic analysis | Interviews with patients found that they were generally satisfied with PAs but lacked an understanding of the role. | High |
| 5 | McDermott et al. [2022] [31] | Mixed-methods | Quantitative, qualitative | Primary | England | Patients | Observations, interviews, focus groups | Thematic analysis |
Focus on skill-mix in GP clinics. Experiences with PAs were good. |
High |
| 6 | Farmer et al. [2011] [32] | Mixed-methods longitudinal study | Quantitative, qualitative |
Primary, secondary |
Scotland | PAs, healthcare practitioners | Interviews, feedback forms, activity data collection | Thematic analysis | PAs viewed as effective and good communicators. | Moderate |
| 7 | Williams & Ritsema [2014] [33] | Survey research | Quantitative |
Primary, secondary |
UK | Doctors | Survey | Descriptive | Doctors report that patient satisfaction with PAs is high. | High |
| 8 | Halter et al. [2020] [34] | Mixed-methods study | Quantitative, qualitative | Secondary | England | Patients, PAs, healthcare professionals | Chart review, observations, semi-structured interviews | Thematic analysis, statistical analysis | Patients were satisfied with PAs but did not know much about them. | High |
| 9 | Halter et al. [2017c] [22] | Qualitative study | Qualitative | Primary | England | Patients | Semi-structured interviews, survey | Thematic analysis | Overall, patients were satisfied with PAs but many did not know much about the role | High |
| 10 | Cheang et al. [2009] [35] | Cross-sectional survey study | Quantitative | Secondary | England | Patients | Survey | Unknown | 20% of participants identified PAs as medically qualified. | Low |
| 11 | Zaman et al. [2018b] [36] | Survey study | Quantitative | Secondary | England | Patients | Survey | Statistical analysis | Patients were overall satisfied with PA expertise and quality of care. | High |
| 12 | Drennan et al. [2020] [37] | Mixed-methods longitudinal study | Quantitative, qualitative | Secondary | England | Senior clinicians, healthcare professionals | Semi-structured interviews, document analysis | Thematic analysis | PAs perceived to be accepted by patients. | High |
| 13 | Drennan et al. [2019] [23] | Mixed-methods case study design | Quantitative, qualitative | Secondary | England | PAs, healthcare professionals, managers | Interviews, observations, work diaries, documentary analysis | Thematic analysis, descriptive analysis | PA’s perceived in a positive light overall. | High |
| 14 | Drennan et al., [2019] [PA-SCER] [26] | Mixed-methods multiphase design | Quantitative, qualitative | Secondary | England | PAs, MDs, patients | Systematic review, policy review, national surveys, case studies, interviews, pragmatic retrospective record | Thematic analysis, descriptive analysis, ethnographic vignettes | Patients were found to be positive about PAs but knew little about them. | High |
| 15 | Drennan et al. [2015] [24] | Comparative observational study | Quantitative | Primary | England | Patients, PAs, healthcare professionals, management, administration | Observation, survey | Statistical analysis | High reports of satisfaction but no statistically significant difference between PAs and GPs | High |
| 16 | Drennan et al. [2014] [25] | Mixed-methods study | Quantitative, qualitative | Primary | England | PAs, patients, nurses, administrative staff | Empirical review, scoping review, surveys, semi-structured interviews, observations | Thematic analysis, descriptive analysis | Majority of patients had positive experiences with PAs. | High |
| 17 | Woodin et al. [2005] [38] | Mixed-methods case study design | Quantitative, qualitative | Primary, secondary | England | PAs, patients, practice staff, stakeholders | Interviews, analysis of data records, literature review, focus groups | Realistic evaluation | Patients knew little of PAs but were overall satisfied with their quality of care. | Moderate |
| 18 | Wilsher et al. [2023] [39] | Convergent mixed-methods case study design | Quantitative, Qualitative | Secondary | England | PAs, patients/relatives of patients | Survey, semi-structured interviews | Descriptive analysis, thematic analysis | Pass provide effective care in acute hospital settings. Patients had positive views on them. | High |