The Use of Simulation in Physician Assistant Programs: A National Survey. 2017

Donald Coerver, and Nina Multak, and Ashley Marquardt, and Eric H Larson
Donald Coerver, PhD, PA-C, CHSE, was a senior lecturer for the MEDEX Northwest program at the University of Washington in Spokane, Washington and has recently retired. Nina Multak, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, is an associate clinical professor in the Physician Assistant Department, College of Nursing and Health Professions, at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ashley Marquardt, MPAS, PA-C, was a lecturer for the MEDEX Northwest Physician program at the University of Washington in Anchorage, Alaska, but has since returned to private practice. Eric H. Larson, PhD, is a research associate professor for the MEDEX Northwest program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to develop a national-level description of the current use of simulation activities in physician assistant (PA) education and to assess the degree to which the use of simulation varies by PA program size and institutional type. METHODS An electronic survey on medical simulation was sent to 177 PA program directors or to a designated simulation activities coordinator, using the directory on the Physician Assistant Education Association website. The survey addressed program characteristics, types of simulation modalities in use, and frequency of use of those modalities in PA training. The specific content areas addressed were error disclosure, medical knowledge, patient care, and psychomotor skills. RESULTS The survey was emailed 3 times from early April to mid-May 2014, with a follow-up call to nonrespondents in August 2014. Of the 177 PA programs contacted, 63 completed the survey, for a response rate of 35.6%. Results indicate widespread use of simulation by survey respondents, especially in teaching, assessment of medical knowledge, and clinical skills, with somewhat lower levels of use in content areas such as error disclosure, delivery of bad news, and team training. CONCLUSIONS Although barriers exist to its use in training health care professionals, simulation has become an important tool for training PAs in a variety of medical and interpersonal skills. It is also clear that simulation is an important tool for conducting interprofessional training. More research is needed to identify optimal approaches to the use of simulation in health care professions training.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007400 Interprofessional Relations The reciprocal interaction of two or more professional individuals. Etiquette, Medical,Medical Etiquette,Relations, Interprofessional
D010823 Physician Assistants Health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. They deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. Duties may include physical exams, diagnosis and treatment of disease, interpretation of tests, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications. (from http://www.aapa.orglabout-pas accessed 2114/2011) Doctor's Assistant,Feldsher,Feldshers,Physician Assistant,Physicians' Assistants,Physicians' Extender,Physicians' Extenders,Doctor's Assistants,Assistant, Doctor's,Assistant, Physicians',Assistants, Doctor's,Assistants, Physician,Assistants, Physicians',Doctor Assistant,Doctor Assistants,Doctors Assistant,Extender, Physicians',Extenders, Physicians',Physician Extender,Physician Extenders,Physician's Assistants,Physician's Extender,Physician's Extenders,Physicians Assistants,Physicians Extender,Physicians' Assistant
D002983 Clinical Competence The capability to perform acceptably those duties directly related to patient care. Clinical Skills,Competence, Clinical,Clinical Competency,Clinical Skill,Competency, Clinical,Skill, Clinical,Skills, Clinical,Clinical Competencies,Competencies, Clinical
D003479 Curriculum A course of study offered by an educational institution. Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D006282 Health Personnel Men and women working in the provision of health services, whether as individual practitioners or employees of health institutions and programs, whether or not professionally trained, and whether or not subject to public regulation. (From A Discursive Dictionary of Health Care, 1976) Health Care Professionals,Health Care Providers,Healthcare Providers,Healthcare Workers,Health Care Professional,Health Care Provider,Healthcare Provider,Healthcare Worker,Personnel, Health,Professional, Health Care,Provider, Health Care,Provider, Healthcare
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000066908 Simulation Training A highly customized interactive medium or program that allows individuals to learn and practice real world activities in an accurate, realistic, safe and secure environment. Interactive Learning,Learning, Interactive,Training, Simulation
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

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