title: Nurse practitioners changing health behaviours: one patient at a time.
abstract: In 2005, legislation was enacted allowing nurse practitioners (NPs) to practise in British Columbia, Canada. Although substantial human and financial resources had been dedicated to the implementation of the role, no evaluation has been conducted to date. As part of a larger multiphase, mixed-methods study design, which evaluated the integration of NPs into the British Columbia healthcare system, this article describes findings related to changes that result for patients and the implications for the healthcare system when NPs become part of the care process. Using survey and interview data, themes that emerged were patient satisfaction, access to care, and behavioural changes. Findings suggest that patients are satisfied with the care they receive from NPs and that NPs make positive changes to health behaviour.
authors.affiliation: School of nursing at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sangster-Gormley
authors.affiliation: School of health information science at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Janessa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: School of nursing at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.affiliation: School of nursing at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feddema
authors.affiliation: School of health information science at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boryki
authors.affiliation: School of nursing at the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: access to care; behavioural changes; integration; leadership; nurse practitioners; patient satisfaction