Patient satisfaction with PAs in the Netherlands.

Physician assistants (PAs) were introduced in the Netherlands in 2002 and are now widely deployed. However, little is known about patient satisfaction with Dutch PAs. A comparative study of patient satisfaction was undertaken in the primary care setting. Patients seen by general practitioners (GPs) and PAs were surveyed using the Consumer Quality Index, a European quality survey instrument. Quality of performance indicators included patient satisfaction, effectiveness of treatment, and safety of treatment. The results found that few differences emerged, and Dutch patients appear to be as satisfied with the care received by PAs as with GPs.