The role of non-physician providers of anaesthesia: a systematic review
Authors' conclusion
There is limited evidence relating to NPA working models, their impact on patient outcomes and on the wider workforce, and the cost-benefit case.
Study context
- Population
- Non-physician providers of anaesthesia (NPAs); literature on models of working, cost-benefit, workforce impact, patient safety and outcomesincluded reports of 6644 records
- Participants
- 56 participants
- Comparison
- Nurse anaesthetists vs physician anaesthetists
- Outcome
- Patient mortality
Methodological detailsupdate of an existing Cochrane review on patient safety and outcomes
- Update of an existing Cochrane review on patient safety and outcomes
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- Little to no difference in patient mortality, nurse vs physician anaesthetists
- All included studies had serious risk of bias
Further pooled results
NPA models of working
- Different models of working in high-income countries; scope of practice and supervision requirements vary; nurse anaesthetists can practise independently in some countries
Applicability
- No studies evaluated NPAs who are not nurses
Safety
- Contradictory findings on frequency of complications
Original publication
The role of non-physician providers of anaesthesia: a systematic review. Br J Anaesth. Published 11 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →