While many physician assistant students learn about quality improvement projects during clinical rotations, few actually participate, according to the results of a study presented at the American Academy of Physician Assistants 2015, held in San Francisco May 23 to 27.
The results of the study were presented by Gerald Kayingo, PhD, assistant clinical professor at the Betty Irene School of Nursing at University of California, Davis, and outlined by The Clinical Advisor.
According to Dr. Kayingo, researchers sent an electronic survey to faculty members at all accredited PA programs who met the study inclusion criteria, inquiring about curricula central to quality improvement education. The investigators also surveyed select second-year PA students who had completed at least four weeks in a primary care rotation.
Highlighted below are three findings from the study, as outlined by The Clinical Advisor.
1. Of the 87 faculty members who responded to the survey, more than 60 percent reported that they teach concepts related to physician-directed teams, principles of quality improvement, care coordination and EHRs.
2. Roughly 38 percent of faculty stated that their students did not participate in quality improvement projects at all, 26.7 percent stated that some students participated and only 14.7 percent reported that all students participated. Of the faculty respondents, 20 percent reported they didn't know if their students participated in a quality improvement project.
3. Less than a quarter (23 percent) of responding students reported they encountered quality improvement projects during their primary care rotation and only 9 percent reported that they participated in these projects.
"Our study suggests that many PA programs have started teaching some of the concepts of quality improvement during the didactic phase, but participation in quality improvement projects during clinical rotations remains limited," wrote the researchers. "Many employers are now expecting PA graduates to have basic knowledge of quality improvement, a concerted effort is needed to better prepare PA students to function in these emerging quality care-driven environments."
More articles on physician assistants:
5 ways the PPACA has changed healthcare staffing and workforce trends
FIU to establish PA program
Yale's online PA program denied accreditation