Research

Survey fatigue

May 14, 2012

Survey research appears to have reached a point where its usefulness is rapidly decreasing. How many surveys do you respond to?
 

Trauma patient satisfaction with physician ­assistants: Testing a structural equation model

, Robin E. Crowe, MA; Sue Nyberg, MHS, PA-C; Charles Burdsal, PhD May 08, 2012

Understanding how patient satisfaction is linked to perceptions of quality medical care is vital to PA success and will support the PA's role on the health care team.
 

The certified physician assistant in the 
United States: A 2011 snapshot

, Janet Lathrop, MBA; Scott Arbet, PhD April 20, 2012

This analysis characterizes the most up-to-date demographic data and practice profile for certified physician assistants in the United States.
 

Generations of certified physician assistants

, Janet Lathrop, MBA; Scott Arbet, PhD April 19, 2012

Generational differences among PAs—which have been further amplified by dramatic shifts in gender ratios—have implications for the physician-PA team.
 

Factors that influence physician assistant 
choice of practice location

, Richard D. Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C; Lindsay Burks, MPA, PA-C; Molly Muck Lavoie, MPA, PA-C March 14, 2012

The authors surveyed factors considered influential in the selection of a PA's first practice location, and their results may be illuminating not just to those interested in PA workforce issues but also to recruiters with hard-to-fill positions.
 

Ask a Librarian!—March 2012

, March 07, 2012

Our medical librarian-PA team answers questions about how to set advanced limits when searching Medline and where to find resources about bioethics.
 

Perceptions of physician assistants regarding direct-to-consumer advertising

, Asha Mathews, MPAS, PA-C; Michael Suprenant, MPAS, PA-C; Lawrence Herman, MPA, RPA-C, DFAAPA February 15, 2012

In this survey, the majority of PAs had neutral or unfavorable opinions of direct-to-consumer advertising, which they viewed as having a negative effect on the patient-provider relationship.
 

Perceptions of physician assistants regarding a specialty certification examination

, Richard D. Muma, PhD, MPH, PA-C; Cassandra L. Montoya, MPA, PA-C; Amanda K. Pettijohn, MPA, PA-C February 14, 2012

This national survey found that PAs do not appear to support the specialty certification process, even though the trend is toward specialty care in other professions.
 

The characteristics of clinically active older physician assistants

, Christal Ramos, MPH; R. Paola Daly, MHS; Raymond Fang, MS January 17, 2012

AAPA census data indicate that compared to younger PAs, PAs working beyond their seventh decade work more in primary care and nonurban areas. Knowing how long PAs continue to practice and what fields they choose will help workforce planners predict needs.
 

The physician assistant workforce in Indiana: Preparing to meet future health care needs

, Jennifer Zorn, MS, PA-C; Tom Gjerde, PhD; Jennifer Burkhart, PA-C; Lori Rosebrock, PA-C December 19, 2011

This study identifies baseline statistics for the current workforce in Indiana as a context for changes that will occur because of the rapid increase in the number of PAs, changes in prescriptive laws, and the opening of a number of new Indiana PA programs.
 

Ask a Librarian!—November 2011

, November 17, 2011

This month's topics include the evidence pyramid--how certain types of studies offer more rigorous evidence than others--and resources for PAs interested in OB/GYN topics.
 

Improving utilization of antimicrobial drugs 
among physician assistants in the ED

, Scott Wright, MD; Jonathan Zenilman, MD; Flora Kisuule, MD, MPH October 21, 2011

Inappropriate antibiotic use in hospitals is a major public health issue, and this study shows how collaboration between PAs and hospitalists can improve antimicrobial utilization.
 

The results of the first Canadian national 
physician assistant survey

, Bosu Seo, PhD; Tara S. Chauhan, BA; Lynda Buske, BSc October 06, 2011

PAs are just one way to increase access to health care, but they are a profession with a proven track record in Canada—and one that suggests small investments will produce a high rate of return.
 

Physician assistants in the United Kingdom: 
An initial profile of the profession

, Katherine E. Paterson, MB ChB, MRCP, MRCGP October 01, 2011

The UK PA profession is in its infancy but shows potential to be a flexible source of medical care provision in the United Kingdom as it has been in the United States.
 

EDOU staffing by PAs: What are the effects on patient outcomes?

, Steven Sugerman, PA-C; Philip Bossart, MD; Joseph Bledsoe, MD; Erik Barton, MD, MS; Kurt Bernhisel, MD; Elizabeth Bess, BS; Troy Madsen, MD August 26, 2011

In this study, PAs successfully managed chest pain and trauma patients with no adverse events or missed injuries occurring during the trial period. The results demonstrate the viability of using PAs to staff emergency department observation units.
 

Utilization of PAs and NPs at a level I trauma center: Effects on outcomes

, AnnMarie Szoke, CRNP; William S. Hoff, MD, FACS; Gail A. Wainwright, MSN, RN; Christy D. Stehly, BS; Lori J. Toedter, PhD July 28, 2011

Adding PAs and NPs significantly reduced ICU length of stay without increasing complications. These clinicians offer a clinically effective and resource-efficient alternative to residents on a trauma service.
 

PAs in the ED: Do physicians think they increase the malpractice risk?

, , June 24, 2011

Most emergency physicians agree that use of PAs in the ED may improve patient communication, decrease wait times, increase patient satisfaction, and thus decrease malpractice risk.
 

MICU care delivered by PAs versus residents: Do PAs measure up?

, Bruno DiGiovine, MD, MPH January 27, 2011

This study compares patient outcomes in a physician assistant-run medical intensive care unit with those in a resident-run medical intensive care unit. The results are consistent with previous studies.
 

Substitution of PAs and NPs for doctors in ED settings

January 27, 2011

This installment reviews a quality of care comparison study, a novel study of patient willingness to see a PA or NP rather than a physician prior to the visit, and an article that disagrees with the second article's conclusions.
 

Gender differences in the vocational satisfaction of physician assistants

October 13, 2010

The author's survey results suggest that male PAs are more satisfied with their jobs, while female PAs are more likely to recommend the PA profession to others.
 

US physician assistant (PA) supply by state 
and county in 2009

Janet P. Sutton, PhD; Christal Ramos, MPH; Jennifer Lucado, MPH September 08, 2010

Variation in the PA-to-population ratio may be related to state practice laws, some of which may discourage PAs from practicing in communities most vulnerable to provider shortages.
 

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment improves compliance with recommended prophylaxis

Marc Moote, MS, PA-C; Michael Englesbe, MD; Vinita Bahl, DMD, MPP; Hsou Mei Hu, MBA, MHS, PhD; Maureen Thompson, MSN, RN; James Kubus, MS; Darrell Campbell Jr, MD June 11, 2010

The consistency of PA-driven care was utilized to develop a protocol for assessing risk of VTE for surgical patients, which led to significant improvement in compliance with published guidelines.
 

A day in the life of Alexandra Braunstein Scott, MS, PA-C, MPH

February 11, 2010

A PA who works in the Michigan Clinical Research Unit at the University of Michigan Hospital describes an average day in the unit.
 

Using research to map a strategy for the future of the PA profession

February 04, 2010

Gaps in our research into the characteristics of the PA profession diminish our effectiveness as advocates for the profession in the legislative and regulatory arenas.
 

Acceptance of physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) in trauma centers: A national survey

Sue M. Nyberg, MHS, PA-C; Kayla R. Keuter, MPH, PA-C; Gina M. Berg, PhD; Amy M. Helton, MPA, PA-C; Angela D. Johnston, MPA, PA-C January 25, 2010

This study suggests that trauma centers are increasingly hiring and making effective use of PAs and NPs—and that jobs for PAs will grow in this area.
 

The development of varying physician assistant roles in the United States

January 13, 2010

The studies discussed in this installment of Research Corner illustrate the growing demand for PAs in the American health care workforce across a variety of settings.
 

A role in trauma care for advanced practice clinicians

Kelly L. Sherwood, PA-C, MPAS; Raymond R. Price, MD, FACS; Thomas W. White, MD, FACS; Mark H. Stevens, MD, FACS; Don H. Van Boerum, MD, FACS June 17, 2009

Advanced practice clinicians can treat trauma patients, safely filling the void left by decreased availability of surgical residents.
 

The role of genetic assessment in determining a patient's disease risk

Michael A. Rackover, PA-C, MS; Doug Scott, MS May 12, 2009

New genetic testing may allow clinicians to lower patients' risk of disease and institute preventive therapy.
 

Using practice analysis to improve the certifying examinations for PAs

Scott Arbet, PhD; Janet Lathrop, MBA; Roderick S. Hooker, PhD, PA February 18, 2009

What do PAs do, how skilled are they in performing these activities, and how important are these activities? For many professions, a practice analysis provides the link between examination content and real-world performance.
 

Pale sunlight through a dusty lens: Physician assistant research

November 01, 2008

Why so few scholars of the PA profession? What has the PA profession achieved, and where is the evidence demonstrating that PAs are what they think they are?
 

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