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Influence of route of entry to a physician assistant education program on selected characteristics of practices of physician assistants.

Purpose: This study compared two groups of physician assistants (PAs), one that entered PA training through a combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (BS/MS) program (group 1) and another whose members entered directly after completing a bachelor's degree (group 2), on four practice character...

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Published in:Journal of Physician Assistant Education (Physician Assistant Education Association) Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 18 - 23
Main Author: Cavenagh JM
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Physician Assistant Education Association 2006
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Journal of Physician Assistant Education (Physician Assistant Education Association)
      issn: 19419430
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      dt: 2006
      vid: 17
      iid: 3
      pid: 20574
      pub: Physician Assistant Education Association
      place: Alexandria, Virginia
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        106248630
        2009368419
        10.1097/01367895-200617030-00003
        106248630
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      tig:
        atl: Influence of route of entry to a physician assistant education program on selected characteristics of practices of physician assistants.
      aug:
        au: Cavenagh JM
        affil: Associate Professor, Chairman, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Department of PA Studies, 4190 City Ave - Rowland Hall, 2nd Fl., Philadelphia, PA 19131; johnca@pcom.edu
      sug:
        subj:
          Education, Physician Assistants
          Educational Status
          Employment
          Physician Assistants
          Primary Health Care
          School Admissions
          Age Factors
          Analysis of Variance
          Case Mix
          Chi Square Test
          Convenience Sample
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Data Analysis Software
          Descriptive Research
          Descriptive Statistics
          Education, Baccalaureate
          Education, Masters
          Nonparametric Statistics
          Pennsylvania
          Questionnaires
          Rural Areas
          Sample Size
          Specialties, Allied Health
          Telephone
          Urban Areas
          Human
      ab: Purpose: This study compared two groups of physician assistants (PAs), one that entered PA training through a combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (BS/MS) program (group 1) and another whose members entered directly after completing a bachelor's degree (group 2), on four practice characteristics: (1) primary care versus specialty practice, (2) mix of inpatients versus outpatients, (3) age categories of patients, and (4) metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan practice locations. Methods: The author used a cross-sectional telephone survey of 126 NCCPA-certified physician assistants to determine whether route of entry to training affected the selected practice characteristics. One hundred and eleven surveys were completed (88% response rate). Results: Differences were found between the two groups. Group 1 PAs (N=27) had a higher percentage practicing in primary care (as defined in the study), were more likely to see only outpatients, and reported that geriatric patients made up a higher percentage of their practices. None of this group practice in nonmetropolitan areas. Group 2 PAs (N=79) had a higher percentage practicing in specialties and seeing only inpatients, reported that nongeriatric adults comprised the highest percentage of their practices, and had a slightly higher percentage practicing in nonmetropolitan areas. The influence of route of entry on all differences between the groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, the differences may have implications for those who design and operate PA educational programs. However, the reasons for the differences need further study. The information gathered by this research may help in deciding how to direct limited fiscal and human resources in improving the quality of PA education.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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