View in EDS PDF Full Text

Task shifting from general practitioners to nurses in out-of-hours primary care: an explorative case study of team-based practices.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Task shifting from general practitioners to nurses in out-of-hours primary care: an explorative case study of team-based practices.
Authors: Bomholt, Katrine Bjørnshave (AUTHOR), Mygind, Anna (AUTHOR), Nebsbjerg, Mette Amalie (AUTHOR), Christensen, Morten Bondo (AUTHOR), Huibers, Linda (AUTHOR), Burau, Viola (AUTHOR)
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. Sep2025, Vol. 43 Issue 3, p626-638. 13p.
Subjects: Teams in the workplace, Work, Wounds & injuries, Medical protocols, Supervision of employees, Interprofessional relations, Professional practice, Research funding, Qualitative research, Primary health care, General practitioners, Family nurses, Interviewing, Descriptive statistics, Thematic analysis, Routine diagnostic tests, Job satisfaction, Nurse-physician relationships, Research, Research methodology, Case studies, Data analysis software, Psychosocial factors, Task shifting, Experiential learning
Geographic Terms: Denmark
Abstract: Background: Out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) is essential for treating urgent health problems. However, the high demand for these services has increased the workload. Objective: To investigate the interprofessional collaboration in OOH-PC and task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to nurses, specifically the professional practices and the perceived experiences of GPs and nurses. Methods: This explorative case study was based on observations and interviews, using normalisation process theory as the theoretical framework. Observations were conducted in two OOH-PC clinics in the Central Denmark Region, followed by individual semi-structured interviews with five GPs and six nurses working in these clinics. Data were collected from March to October 2022. Results: GPs and nurses worked together in a team-based workflow based on different roles and skills but joint tasks. The nurses handled patients with injuries and performed diagnostic tests. A team-based workflow with task shifting was supported by familiarity within the team, with nurses performing informal coordination tasks and having formal support like protocols, training, and GP supervision. GPs and nurses appreciated the team-based workflow, as it facilitated efficient resource use and high job satisfaction. However, both groups expressed concerns about the sustainability of OOH-PC clinics. Conclusion: Task shifting from GPs to nurses in OOH-PC is feasible in a team-based workflow, resulting in efficient use of available resources and high job satisfaction. However, task shifting should not aim to replace GPs with nurses. Instead, their roles and skills should be seen as complementary, which calls for task sharing. KEY POINTS: This study investigated team-based collaboration practices in out-of-hours primary care clinics, focusing on task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to nurses. GPs and nurses worked together in a team-based workflow, where nurses independently handled most of the patients with injuries and performed diagnostic tests; this workflow resulted in efficient use of available resources and high job satisfaction. A team-based workflow with task shifting was supported by familiarity within the team, with nurses performing informal coordination tasks and receiving formal support in the shape of training, protocols, and accessible supervision from a GP. Task shifting should not aim to replace GPs with nurses. Instead, the roles of GPs and nurses should be seen as complementary, which calls for task sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 187499144
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Task shifting from general practitioners to nurses in out-of-hours primary care: an explorative case study of team-based practices.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bomholt%2C+Katrine+Bjørnshave%22">Bomholt, Katrine Bjørnshave</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mygind%2C+Anna%22">Mygind, Anna</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nebsbjerg%2C+Mette+Amalie%22">Nebsbjerg, Mette Amalie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christensen%2C+Morten+Bondo%22">Christensen, Morten Bondo</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huibers%2C+Linda%22">Huibers, Linda</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burau%2C+Viola%22">Burau, Viola</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Scandinavian+Journal+of+Primary+Health+Care%22">Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care</searchLink>. Sep2025, Vol. 43 Issue 3, p626-638. 13p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teams+in+the+workplace%22">Teams in the workplace</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work%22">Work</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wounds+%26+injuries%22">Wounds & injuries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+protocols%22">Medical protocols</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Supervision+of+employees%22">Supervision of employees</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interprofessional+relations%22">Interprofessional relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+practice%22">Professional practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Primary+health+care%22">Primary health care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22General+practitioners%22">General practitioners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+nurses%22">Family nurses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Routine+diagnostic+tests%22">Routine diagnostic tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+satisfaction%22">Job satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nurse-physician+relationships%22">Nurse-physician relationships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+studies%22">Case studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+shifting%22">Task shifting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+learning%22">Experiential learning</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Denmark%22">Denmark</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Out-of-hours primary care (OOH-PC) is essential for treating urgent health problems. However, the high demand for these services has increased the workload. Objective: To investigate the interprofessional collaboration in OOH-PC and task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to nurses, specifically the professional practices and the perceived experiences of GPs and nurses. Methods: This explorative case study was based on observations and interviews, using normalisation process theory as the theoretical framework. Observations were conducted in two OOH-PC clinics in the Central Denmark Region, followed by individual semi-structured interviews with five GPs and six nurses working in these clinics. Data were collected from March to October 2022. Results: GPs and nurses worked together in a team-based workflow based on different roles and skills but joint tasks. The nurses handled patients with injuries and performed diagnostic tests. A team-based workflow with task shifting was supported by familiarity within the team, with nurses performing informal coordination tasks and having formal support like protocols, training, and GP supervision. GPs and nurses appreciated the team-based workflow, as it facilitated efficient resource use and high job satisfaction. However, both groups expressed concerns about the sustainability of OOH-PC clinics. Conclusion: Task shifting from GPs to nurses in OOH-PC is feasible in a team-based workflow, resulting in efficient use of available resources and high job satisfaction. However, task shifting should not aim to replace GPs with nurses. Instead, their roles and skills should be seen as complementary, which calls for task sharing. KEY POINTS: This study investigated team-based collaboration practices in out-of-hours primary care clinics, focusing on task shifting from general practitioners (GPs) to nurses. GPs and nurses worked together in a team-based workflow, where nurses independently handled most of the patients with injuries and performed diagnostic tests; this workflow resulted in efficient use of available resources and high job satisfaction. A team-based workflow with task shifting was supported by familiarity within the team, with nurses performing informal coordination tasks and receiving formal support in the shape of training, protocols, and accessible supervision from a GP. Task shifting should not aim to replace GPs with nurses. Instead, the roles of GPs and nurses should be seen as complementary, which calls for task sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=187499144
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02813432.2025.2490911
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 626
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Teams in the workplace
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wounds & injuries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical protocols
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Supervision of employees
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interprofessional relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Primary health care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: General practitioners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family nurses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Routine diagnostic tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job satisfaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nurse-physician relationships
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Case studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Task shifting
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Denmark
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Task shifting from general practitioners to nurses in out-of-hours primary care: an explorative case study of team-based practices.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Bomholt, Katrine Bjørnshave
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mygind, Anna
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nebsbjerg, Mette Amalie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Christensen, Morten Bondo
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Huibers, Linda
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Burau, Viola
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 02813432
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 43
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
              Type: main
ResultId 1