ArticleInternational journal of surgery (London, England)2026
Assessing the role and effect of physician assistants in pediatric surgery: a prospective cross-sectional trial.
Article in International journal of surgery (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundPhysicians spend an increasing amount of time on administrative activities. Physician assistants (PA) may help free-up time for nondelegable, patient-specific tasks. We began employing PAs in our pediatric surgery department in 2021 and evaluated their impact.
methodsWe conducted a pre- and postinterventional study to measure the impact of adding PAs to our workforce. Parameters modelling workforce efficiency, including sign-out times, physician overtime, and discharge flow, were measured and compared over corresponding 5-month periods. Family, nursing staff, and physician satisfaction were assessed before (PA-) and after (PA+) hiring PAs, using Likert-scale questionnaires. All parametric quantitative data were compared statistically.
resultsDuring the intervention period, sign-out to the on-call team occurred earlier (17:22 ± 0:47 hours PA+ vs. 18:21 ± 1:14 hours PA-, P < 0.001). Simultaneously, residents observed breaks more frequently (88% vs. 55%, P = 0.001), waiting time until discharge was reduced (1:38 ± 1:15 hours PA+ vs. 2:15 ± 1:44 hours PA-, P = 0.001), and effective discharge occurred earlier (13:08 ± 2:17 hours PA+ vs. 13:45 ± 2:26 hours PA-, P = 0.036). A total of 76 questionnaires by employees and 300 questionnaires by patients/families regarding satisfaction were analyzed. After the introduction of PAs, patient/family satisfaction improved from 1.5 to 1.3 ( P = 0.041).
conclusionThe addition of PAs to our team had positive effects on patient and family satisfaction, quality of care, work efficacy, sign-out times, and patient discharge. These changes may translate into substantial economic healthcare savings, as well asimproved and more efficient patient care.
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