LAUSR

Key Points Question Is groin hernia repair task sharing between medical doctors (MDs) and associate clinicians (ACs; health care workers corresponding to an educational level between that of a nurse and an MD) in Sierra Leone safe and effective? Findings In this randomized clinical trial including 230 patients with primary inguinal hernia, 1-year postoperative hernia recurrence rates were 0.9% for patients operated on by ACs vs 6.9% for patients operated on by MDs, a statistically significant difference. The study shows noninferiority of ACs vs MDs. Meaning These findings demonstrate that surgical task sharing to ACs in groin hernia surgical procedures was safe and effective and could be expanded to address the immense burden of disease owing to groin hernia.