Findings from S. Gysin et al Update Understanding of Family Medicine (Advanced practice nurses’ and general practitioners’ first experiences with introducing the advanced practice nurse role to Swiss primary care: a qualitative study)

2020 JAN 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Daily -- Investigators publish new report on Health and Medicine - Family Medicine. According to news reporting originating from Luzern, Switzerland, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Primary care is facing a multimorbid, ageing population and a lack of general practitioners (GPs), especially in rural areas. In many countries, advanced practice nurses (APNs) may be a potential solution for these challenges.”

Funders for this research include Ebnet-Stiftung, CSS Insurance, Kanton Uri: Gesundheits-, Sozial- und Umweltdirektion.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research, “Switzerland, however, is in the early stages of APN role development with a handful of pilot projects that are unresearched. Our aim was to explore the experiences of APNs and GPs involved in introducing the APN role to Swiss primary care. We organised two focus group discussions with APNs (n=9) engaged in primary care across German-speaking Switzerland and individual interviews with APNs (n=2) and GPs (n=4) from two pilot projects in remote areas. Data analysis followed an exploratory hybrid approach of thematic analysis and was guided by the PEPPA Plus framework. The analysis resulted in five main themes: The participants considered themselves pioneers developing a new model in primary care, seeking to shape and improve future health care ((1) pioneering spirit). Both nurses and doctors agreed on the additional value of the APN role, a role seen as having more time for and a different approach to patient care, bringing higher quality of care and flexibility to the practice ((2) added value from the APN role). Participants also emphasized the importance of asking for advice when unsure about diagnostic steps or appropriate treatment ((3) awareness of limited knowledge and skills). The main barriers identified included the impression that Swiss doctors have little knowledge about nurses in advanced roles ((4) GP’s lack of knowledge regarding the APN role), and that further regulations will be important to foster role clarity and accountability ((5) political and legal obstacles in introducing the APN role). The early phase of introducing APNs to Swiss primary care is characterised by heterogeneous, small-scale projects of pioneering GPs and APNs recognising the added value and limits of APNs despite a lack of governance and knowledge regarding the APN role among GPs.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Experiences gained from ongoing projects provide elements of good practice for political discussions and regulations.”

For more information on this research see: Advanced practice nurses’ and general practitioners’ first experiences with introducing the advanced practice nurse role to Swiss primary care: a qualitative study. Bmc Family Practice, 2019;20(1):163. (BioMed Central - http://www.biomedcentral.com/; Bmc Family Practice - http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcfampract/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting S. Gysin, Institute of Primary & Community Care Lucerne, Schwanenplatz 7, 6004, Luzern, Switzerland. Additional authors for this research include B. Sottas, M. Odermatt and S. Essig.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-019-1055-z. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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