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A systematic review of evidence about extended roles for allied health professionals

A systematic review of evidence about extended roles for allied health professionals
A systematic review of evidence about extended roles for allied health professionals
Objective: Extending the role of allied health professionals has been promoted as a key component of developing a flexible health workforce. This review aimed to synthesize the evidence about the impact of these roles.
Methods: A systematic review of extended scope of practice in five groups: paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. The nature and effect of these roles on patients, health professionals and health services were examined. An inclusive approach to searching was used to maximize potential sources of interest including multiple databases, 'grey' literature and subject area experts. An expanded Cochrane Collaboration method was used in view of the anticipated lack of randomized controlled trials and heterogeneity of designs. Papers were only excluded after the search stage for lack of relevance.
Results: A total of 355 papers was identified as meeting relevance criteria and 21 studies progressed to full review and data extraction. The primary reason for exclusion from data extraction was that the study included neither qualitative nor quantitative data or because methodological flaws compromised data quality. It was not possible to evaluate any pooled effects as patient health outcomes were rarely considered.
Conclusions: A range of extended practice roles for allied health professionals have been promoted and are being undertaken, but their health outcomes have rarely been evaluated. There is also little evidence as to how best to introduce such roles, or how best to educate, support and mentor these practitioners.
health professionals, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, speech and language therapists
1355-8196
240-247
McPherson, K.
dc901431-2119-42df-9400-852e4cb46d75
Kersten, P.
b5c4e49b-d73b-46f1-bdc4-266170562b67
George, S.
bdfc752b-f67e-4490-8dc0-99bfaeb046ca
Lattimer, V.
5aa2c9a5-13cb-4776-9b0d-c618e6913f5b
Breton, A.
5cb58c55-0cad-4a12-800a-aa10cf913b26
Ellis, B.
938149ce-2fff-4407-8df1-594fb87e0c09
Kaur, D.
195ccf6c-e0bd-4243-b3be-522ebddf143c
Frampton, G.
3628cbce-5f46-47e6-aedb-e9a3c13a8970
McPherson, K.
dc901431-2119-42df-9400-852e4cb46d75
Kersten, P.
b5c4e49b-d73b-46f1-bdc4-266170562b67
George, S.
bdfc752b-f67e-4490-8dc0-99bfaeb046ca
Lattimer, V.
5aa2c9a5-13cb-4776-9b0d-c618e6913f5b
Breton, A.
5cb58c55-0cad-4a12-800a-aa10cf913b26
Ellis, B.
938149ce-2fff-4407-8df1-594fb87e0c09
Kaur, D.
195ccf6c-e0bd-4243-b3be-522ebddf143c
Frampton, G.
3628cbce-5f46-47e6-aedb-e9a3c13a8970

McPherson, K., Kersten, P., George, S., Lattimer, V., Breton, A., Ellis, B., Kaur, D. and Frampton, G. (2006) A systematic review of evidence about extended roles for allied health professionals. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 11 (4), 240-247. (doi:10.1258/135581906778476544).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objective: Extending the role of allied health professionals has been promoted as a key component of developing a flexible health workforce. This review aimed to synthesize the evidence about the impact of these roles.
Methods: A systematic review of extended scope of practice in five groups: paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. The nature and effect of these roles on patients, health professionals and health services were examined. An inclusive approach to searching was used to maximize potential sources of interest including multiple databases, 'grey' literature and subject area experts. An expanded Cochrane Collaboration method was used in view of the anticipated lack of randomized controlled trials and heterogeneity of designs. Papers were only excluded after the search stage for lack of relevance.
Results: A total of 355 papers was identified as meeting relevance criteria and 21 studies progressed to full review and data extraction. The primary reason for exclusion from data extraction was that the study included neither qualitative nor quantitative data or because methodological flaws compromised data quality. It was not possible to evaluate any pooled effects as patient health outcomes were rarely considered.
Conclusions: A range of extended practice roles for allied health professionals have been promoted and are being undertaken, but their health outcomes have rarely been evaluated. There is also little evidence as to how best to introduce such roles, or how best to educate, support and mentor these practitioners.

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More information

Published date: October 2006
Keywords: health professionals, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, speech and language therapists

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 47917
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/47917
ISSN: 1355-8196
PURE UUID: e9357f5e-e288-4986-9839-e27c43bf33ef

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Date deposited: 09 Aug 2007
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 09:40

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Contributors

Author: K. McPherson
Author: P. Kersten
Author: S. George
Author: V. Lattimer
Author: A. Breton
Author: B. Ellis
Author: D. Kaur
Author: G. Frampton

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