Study to Determine the Nature, if Any, of the Differences in Physician Assistants' Perceptions, Their Training, and Their Utilization

摘要

This study was conducted to determine the nature of differences between what physician assistants (PA) think their job should be, what they have been trained for, and what they are actually doing in Army Health Care Organizations. Samples of the actual duties performed by PAs were recorded and sorted into either clinical, administrative, or managerial. PAs' perceptions of what they were trained for were measured with a survey. Results showed a significant difference between training and actual duties in clinical functions, in particular, PAs were not treating inpatients, extended patients, and obstetrical and gynecological patients. There was complete agreement between their training, use, and perceptions on appropriate use in administrative tasks. Management functions did not show a consistent trend between the PAs. (jes)