Rural and urban physicians' perceptions regarding the role and practice of the nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and certified nurse midwife.

Abstract

There is a dearth of literature citing the differences in rural and urban physicians' perceptions of the role and practice of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives (nonphysician providers). The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare differences, if any, between rural and urban primary care physicians' perceptions of the role and practice of nonphysician providers. Despite a 15.55% response rate using a mail-out survey in South Carolina, data from 681 rural and urban primary care physicians indicated that they perceived that nonphysician providers possess the necessary skills and knowledge to provide primary care to patients, are an asset to a physician's practice, free the physician's time to handle more critically ill patients, and increase revenue for the practice, but increase the risk of patient care mistakes and a physician's time in administrative duties. Urban physicians' mean scores were higher for perceiving that nonphysician providers are able to see as many patients in a given day as a physician but experience impediments in the delivery of patient care. Results will be used to clarify physicians' perceptions regarding the role and practice of nonphysician providers to reduce impediments to patient care access.