Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37494320›Full record

ArticleCanadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada2023

Quantitative and qualitative impact of physician assistants in a Canadian urology setting.

James Misurka, Katherine Lajkosz, Miran Kenk, Antonio Finelli, Neil E Fleshner

Open access · diamondAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Retiring trends The role of artificial intelligence in mitigating the urologist shortage in Canada.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

James MisurkaUniversity Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Katherine LajkoszUniversity Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Miran KenkUniversity Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Antonio FinelliUniversity Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Neil E FleshnerUniversity Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
University Health Network · CAUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPhysician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who act as physician extenders. PAs are being used more and more in a wide variety of clinic settings throughout Canada to increase access to healthcare and reduce cost. We set out to determine the impact of PAs on a tertiary care center urologic oncology practice.

methodsWe reviewed Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing codes since the introduction of PAs for two attending urologists at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Data were grouped into early experience and established experience. In addition, questionnaires were electronically distributed among nurses, physicians, residents, and fellows who work with PAs in clinic. Patient visits conducted by PAs were tracked for one quarter to estimate the amount of annual patients seen by PAs. The costs associated with PAs are presented as recommendations for a new graduate PA hire.

resultsOn average, PAs increased clinic volume by 11.3 patient visits per day. Furthermore, they individually care for an average of 24 patients per day. PAs did not represent a financial burden on the urology practice plan (revenue gain of $16 800). Our questionnaire demonstrated that PAs were capable healthcare professionals, who decreased workload and contributed to resident/fellow education.

conclusionsPAs in a Canadian urology practice allow for more patient visits, decrease in physician workload, and positively impact trainee education. PAs saw more patients in clinic than clinic growth, thereby decreasing physician, fellow, and resident workload. The offset of the increase in patient visits made the PAs a cost-neutral investment.

Identifiers

PMID37494320
PMCPMC10581721
OpenAlexW4385075353

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.