The contribution of Physician Assistants in primary care: a systematic review

Table 1 Search terms for each database (as described or entered into each database)

Principle for the search	Database	Index terms	Additional keywords
Physician Assistant	MEDLINE	Physician Assistants	physician* assistant*
	EMBASE	physician assistant	physician* assistant*
	CINAHL	Physician Assistants	physician* assistant*
		Physician Assistant Attitudes
		American Academy of Physician Assistants
	PsycINFO	-	physician* assistant*
	BNI	-	physician* assistant*
	SSCI	-	physician* assistant*
	SCOPUS	-	physician* assistant*
Primary Care	MEDLINE	Primary Health Care	general practi*
		Physicians, Family
		Family Practice
	EMBASE	primary medical care	primary care
		general practice	family practice
		general practice	general practi*
	CINAHL	Primary Health Care	general practi*
		Physicians, Family
		Family Practice
	PsycINFO	Primary Health Care	primary care
	PsycINFO	Family Physicians	family practice
	BNI	-	primary care
			general practi*
			family practice
	SSCI	-	primary care
		-	primary health care
			primary medical care
			general practi*
			family practi*
	SCOPUS		primary care
			primary health care
			primary medical care
			general practi*
			family practi*
English language	All	Limiters: English Language

The asterisk * was used to truncate the search term. For example, physician* assistant* will search for physician assistant, physician’s assistant, physician assistants, etc.