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The acceptability of task-shifting from doctors to allied health professionals - results from a representative telephone survey of members of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians

Item Type:Article
Title:The acceptability of task-shifting from doctors to allied health professionals - results from a representative telephone survey of members of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
Creators Name:Jedro, C. and Holmberg, C. and Tille, F. and Widmann, J. and Schneider, A. and Stumm, J. and Döpfmer, S. and Kuhlmey, A. and Schnitzer, S.
Abstract:BACKGROUND: The shifting of medical tasks (MT) to Qualified Medical Practice Assistants (MPA) is an option that can be pursued to ensure adequate health care in Germany despite the increasing scarcity of physicians. The goal of this study was to determine the acceptability of medical task-shifting to MPA among the general population. METHODS: In a nationwide, representative telephone survey, 6105 persons aged 18 or older were asked whether they would be willing to receive care from a specially trained MPA at a physician’s office. Their responses were tested for correlations with sociodemographic characteristics by means of bivariate (chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test) and multivariable statistics (logistic regression). RESULTS: Of the respondents, 67.2% expressed willingness to accept the shifting of MT to an MPA for the treatment of a minor illness, and 51.8% for a chronic illness. Rejection of task-shifting was associated with old age, residence in western Germany, and citizenship of a country other than Germany. For example, non-Germans rejected task-shifting more commonly than Germans, for both minor illnesses (odds ratio [OR] 2.96; 95% confidence interval [2.28; 3.85]) and chronic illnesses (OR 1.61; [1.24; 2.10]). CONCLUSION: Further studies are needed to investigate the motives for rejection of medical task-shifting to MPA in order to assess the likelihood of successful nationwide introduction of a uniform delegation model.
Keywords:Allied Health Personnel, Delivery of Health Care, Germany, Physicians
Source:Deutsches Aerzteblatt International
ISSN:1866-0452
Publisher:Deutscher Ärzte-Verlag
Volume:117
Number:35-36
Page Range:583-590
Date:31 August 2020
Additional Information:Copyright © Deutscher Ärzteverlag GmbH
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2020.0583
External Fulltext:View full text on PubMed Central
PubMed:View item in PubMed
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https://edoc.mdc-berlin.de/19406/German version

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