Patients’ Knowledge of Health Care Provider Credentials and their Preferences for Physicians versus Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants have grown in numbers exponentially, and in more than half of the country, nurse practitioners are granted full authority to practice independently. This means patients may not always, or ever, see a physician. Furthermore, this scope of practice expansion can be confusing for patients, whose health literacy level may not allow them to understand who is in charge of their health. The authors conducted a national web-based survey to understand patients’ knowledge and attitudes towards their healthcare provider. Approximately 20% had no idea the number of years post-high school education received by their physicians, nurse practitioners or physician assistants. The majority (61%) preferred to see a physician if given the choice, while 24% did not care which type of provider they saw. 66% preferred a board-certified physician anesthesiologist if they were to need surgery; 17% did not have a preference. The vast majority of participants (74%), believed that a physician should direct their care when in the emergency room, while 13% did not care.