TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the effect of PAs on physician trainee learning
AU - Polansky, Maura N.
AU - Govaerts, Marjan J.B.
AU - Stalmeijer, Renée E.
AU - Eid, Ahmed
AU - Bodurka, Diane C.
AU - Dolmans, Diana H.J.M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Academy of Physician Assistants.
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Background: Physician assistants (PAs) often have been embedded in academic medical centers to help ensure an adequate patient care workforce while supporting compliance with workhour restrictions for residents and fellows (also called trainees). Limited studies have explored the effect of PAs on trainee learning. This qualitative study explored, from the perspective of physician faculty and PAs, how PAs working in the clinical learning environment can enhance or hinder trainee learning. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 12 PAs and 12 physician faculty members in one US teaching hospital were selected for semistructured interviews. Data collection and analysis were characterized by an iterative process. Data analysis was informed by principles of conventional content analysis. Results: Participants identifi ed various ways in which PAs may affect trainee learning, intrinsically linked to the roles PAs assume in the clinical learning environment: clinician, teammate, and clinical teacher. Trainee learning may be enhanced because learning time can be optimized by having PAs in the clinical learning environment. Trainees can learn about PAs and how to collaborate with them, and PAs can enculturate and provide clinical instruction to trainees. Trainee learning may be hindered if learning opportunities for trainees go to PAs, trainees feel intimidated by experienced PAs, or trainees become too dependent on PAs. Conclusions: Our fi ndings demonstrate enhancements and hindrances to trainees' learning linked to three key roles PAs perform in the clinical learning environment. These fi ndings can inform how PAs are integrated into teaching services. Further investigation is needed to understand how PAs can balance their professional roles to foster effective collaborative practice and learning.
AB - Background: Physician assistants (PAs) often have been embedded in academic medical centers to help ensure an adequate patient care workforce while supporting compliance with workhour restrictions for residents and fellows (also called trainees). Limited studies have explored the effect of PAs on trainee learning. This qualitative study explored, from the perspective of physician faculty and PAs, how PAs working in the clinical learning environment can enhance or hinder trainee learning. Methods: Using purposive sampling, 12 PAs and 12 physician faculty members in one US teaching hospital were selected for semistructured interviews. Data collection and analysis were characterized by an iterative process. Data analysis was informed by principles of conventional content analysis. Results: Participants identifi ed various ways in which PAs may affect trainee learning, intrinsically linked to the roles PAs assume in the clinical learning environment: clinician, teammate, and clinical teacher. Trainee learning may be enhanced because learning time can be optimized by having PAs in the clinical learning environment. Trainees can learn about PAs and how to collaborate with them, and PAs can enculturate and provide clinical instruction to trainees. Trainee learning may be hindered if learning opportunities for trainees go to PAs, trainees feel intimidated by experienced PAs, or trainees become too dependent on PAs. Conclusions: Our fi ndings demonstrate enhancements and hindrances to trainees' learning linked to three key roles PAs perform in the clinical learning environment. These fi ndings can inform how PAs are integrated into teaching services. Further investigation is needed to understand how PAs can balance their professional roles to foster effective collaborative practice and learning.
KW - academic healthcare
KW - clinical learning environment
KW - physician assistants
KW - residents
KW - teaching
KW - trainees
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U2 - 10.1097/01.JAA.0000554742.08935.99
DO - 10.1097/01.JAA.0000554742.08935.99
M3 - Article
C2 - 31033715
AN - SCOPUS:85064404734
SN - 1547-1896
VL - 32
SP - 47
EP - 53
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
IS - 5
ER -