Comparison 1. Doctor‐nurse substitution study results.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality	8	36529	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.77 [0.57, 1.03]
2 Physical function (better vs not better)	3	3549	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.98, 1.09]
3 Pain	2		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.76 [‐3.85, 5.38]
4 Quality of life	6	16002	Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.16 [0.00, 0.31]
5 Systolic blood pressure	3	1023	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.73 [‐6.02, ‐1.44]
6 Diastolic blood pressure	2	562	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.54 [‐4.57, ‐0.52]
7 Total cholesterol	2	702	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.15 [‐0.32, 0.02]
8 HbA1c	2	310	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.08 [‐0.25, 0.41]
9 Disease Activity Score	2		Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.04 [‐0.17, 0.24]
10 Patient satisfaction	7	16993	Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.08 [0.01, 0.15]
11 Length of consultation	4	5848	Std. Mean Difference (Random, 95% CI)	0.38 [0.22, 0.54]
12 Scheduled return visits	3	3934	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.31 [0.89, 1.94]
13 Attended return visit	4	5064	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.19 [1.07, 1.33]
14 Prescription ordered	4	5702	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.99 [0.95, 1.03]
15 Investigations	4	3654	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.59, 1.51]
16 Hospital referral	4	17299	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.54, 1.49]
17 Attendance at accident and emergency	6	29905	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.91, 1.09]
18 Hospital admission	3	16466	Risk Ratio (Random, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.78, 1.39]