Table 2

Determinants for the employment of physician assistants for inpatient care

Theme	Perceived facilitators	Perceived barriers
The innovation	Need for continuity of care Need for quality improvement High workload MRs More effective employment of MRs for other tasks Employee of the ward initiated the idea	No need for change Time and cost investment for the education of a PA Risk that the PA resigns shortly after finishing education PA does not work at irregular shifts Limit the education possibilities of MRs Lack of scientific evidence on outcomes Diversity of different professionals who can be employed for inpatient care
Professional interactions	Positive experiences with PAs in inpatient care elsewhere	Negative experiences with PAs in inpatient care elsewhere Resistance from professional associations of medical specialists
Incentives and resources	Shortage of MRs for inpatient care Relatively low salary of PA Standardisation of medical care	Shortage of appropriate PA for inpatient care Discussion about payment of salary PA
Capacity for organisational change	Support of the management Staff physicians are employed by the hospital	Uncertainty because of approaching take-over of hospitals Uncertainty because of changes of high impact within the organisation of the staff physicians
Social, political and legal factors	Improved legislation to prescribe medication and indicate and perform medical procedures	Less authorised to prescribe medication and take decisions in comparison to MRs