Table 2 Studies Summary and Key findings
From: Two decades on - cardiothoracic surgical care practitioners in the UK: a narrative review
Author/s | Title | Aims | Design | Outcomes | Sample Size, Sampling Type and Timeframe | Data Collection Method | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alex et al. [8] | Surgical nurse assistants in cardiac surgery: a UK trainee’s perspective | To assess the impact of SCPs on surgical training based on a comparative audit of case-mix and outcome of coronary revascularizations assisted by SCPs assistants vs. surgical trainees | Prospective Audit | Assisting in surgery, harvesting saphenous veins and radial arteries as bypass conduits | 1300 patients, convenience sample over two years | Data were entered into the Patient Analysis and Tracking System (PATS) database | SCPs were efficient in assisting surgeons compared to surgical trainees: Operation time (P = 0.0001), Cross-clamp time (P = 0.0001) |
Martin et al. [9] | The surgical care practitioner: a feasible alternative. Results of a prospective 4-year audit | To audit the volume and outcomes related to the SCP service | Prospective Audit | Safety in performing minor surgical procedures, i.e., removal of sebaceous cysts, skin tags, basal cell papillomas and lipomas | 381 patients, convenience sample over four years | All prospectively collected data regarding SCP-managed patients were retrospectively audited. | “SCP is feasible and safe, contributes positively to waiting times and is acceptable to patients”. |
Hickey and Cooper [10] | Varicose vein surgery performed by a surgical care practitioner | To assess the contribution of SCPs when performing day-case varicose vein surgery | Prospective research with unclear design | Varicose vein operations, performing leg avulsions and groin wound closure. | 327 patients, convenience sample over four years. | Not clear | The mean number of legs treated per list during the six months prior to the implementation of the surgical care practitioner role was 3.3, and this number was raised to 4.7 during the six months from February to July 2007. The six-week follow-up showed no differences in outcome between consultant-performed procedures and those carried out by surgical care practitioners. |
Palan et al. [11] | The trainer, the trainee and the surgeons’ assistant clinical outcomes following total hip replacement | “To investigate whether there is an association between surgical outcome and the grade of the operating surgeon (trainees vs. trainers), and whether there is any difference in outcome if surgeon’s assistants assist with the operation rather than trainees (surgeons’ assistants vs. trainees).” | Prospective Cohort Study | Assisting in orthopaedic surgeries. | 1501 patients, Consecutive over three years | Postal questionnaires and patient records | The mean operating time significantly decreased, from 90 min to 65 min, when the surgeon was assisted by a SCP (p < 0.001). |
Williams et al. [14] | Telephone clinic follow-up following carpal tunnel decompression | Investigating the feasibility of using telephone clinics in the routine follow-up of patients following carpal tunnel decompression | Prospective Service Evaluation | Conducting Telephone Clinics to follow up patients. | 598 patients, convenience sample over two years. | Pre-determined questionnaires but not clear how delivered | The employment of SCPs in the telephone clinic could save in total approximately £45,958. |
Kumar et al. [15] | The general surgical care practitioner improves surgical outpatient streamlining and the delivery of elective surgical care | To examine whether the SCPs could reduce the misdirection of outpatient referrals. To assess whether the SCP could manage post-operative follow-ups via telephone with all elective, benign, major UGI laparoscopic surgery patients | Prospective Audit | Assessing all outpatient referrals. Conducting telephone follow up postoperatively | 1448 patients, convenience sample over one year | From hospital record management system | The inclusion of the SCP prevented inappropriate referrals of 175 new patients, saving approximately 35 new outpatient appointments per month. |
Quick [16] | The role of the surgical care practitioner within the surgical team | To determine whether SCPs bring benefits | Qualitative/ Autoethnography | Assisting and undertaking surgical procedures | Six senior surgeons | Face-to-face interviews | SCPs added benefits to the patient, members of the surgical team, the practitioner and the employing organisation |
Quick [12] | Evaluating a specialist nurse’s role in a general paediatric surgical team | To assess the contribution of the SCP when performing operative procedures. | Retrospective Audit | Performing operative procedures, such as circumcisions. Assisting during day-case elective surgery. | 147 patients/ 2 years, retrospective convenience sampling | Patient records | SCPs provide an efficient and safe service with zero rate of complications. |
Tingle et al. [13] | Performance and learning curve of a surgical care practitioner in completing hip aspirations | To examine the learning curve and competence of the SCP in performing hip aspirations. | Retrospective Service Evolution | Performing hip aspirations surgeries | 510 patients/ five years, retrospective convenience sampling | Patient records | SCPs’ failure rate when performing hip aspiration was significantly lower than that of the surgeons (P < 0.001). With advancing SCP experience, the failure rate dropped to 3.5% from 12.4% with the first 210 cases (P = 0.006). |
Barry [17] | “How can the presence of a surgical care practitioner improve training for staff who are learning how to scrub for robotics cases in a urology theatre?” | To examine the contribution of the SCP in supporting the learning needs of the junior scrub staff in urology operating theatres | Cross-sectional Survey | Assisting in urological robotics surgeries | Eight junior scrub practitioners | Online questionnaire using SurveyMonkey | The presence of the SCPs enhanced the learning of the junior theatre team in urology |