PHM-Exch> Mid-level health workers as effective as physicians

[Claudio Schuftan]

Countries facing severe shortages and poor distribution of health workers
could benefit from training and deploying more mid-level health workers,
such as midwives, nurses, medical assistants and surgical clinicians,
according to a study published in the Bulletin of the World Health
Organization today.

In countries where such health workers have been deployed, the clinical
outcomes for certain services were just as good and -- in some cases --
even better than when physicians performed them, the study shows.

"Our findings de-bunk the myth that more extensive use of mid -level health
workers might lead to services of poorer quality; despite the limitations
of the evidence, it seems that in some areas they actually out-performed
physicians," said lead author Dr Zohra S. Lassi, Senior Instructor in the
Division of Women and Child Health at the Aga Khan University in Karachi,
Paki- stan. "Most of our findings point to opportunities that all coun-
tries -- rich and poor alike -- can exploit."

The study shows that when care for mothers and newborn babies is provided
by midwives, as opposed to physicians work- ing with midwives, the rates
are lower for episiotomy (a surgical incision to ease a baby's delivery
that can lead to complications) and the use of painkillers. In addition,
patient satisfaction is often higher, the study shows.

For more details:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131031203434.htm?
utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_health+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--
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