Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care
Physician assistants (PAs) have been integrated into primary care settings to reduce wait times and to optimize continuity of care. Though previous studies suggest that PA utilization leads to improved healthcare access, few studies have investigated patient experience with primary care PAs in Canad...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Patient Experience |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231211782 |
| _version_ | 1827773586421579776 |
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| author | Alexa Moschella HBSc, MD candidate Kristen Burrows PhD, CCPA |
| author_facet | Alexa Moschella HBSc, MD candidate Kristen Burrows PhD, CCPA |
| author_sort | Alexa Moschella HBSc, MD candidate |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physician assistants (PAs) have been integrated into primary care settings to reduce wait times and to optimize continuity of care. Though previous studies suggest that PA utilization leads to improved healthcare access, few studies have investigated patient experience with primary care PAs in Canada. The objective of this study is to explore patient perspectives on primary care PAs in Ontario. A patient survey was developed and distributed to patients seen by PAs in 4 family medicine practices across Ontario, Canada. Results demonstrate that many patients are highly satisfied with their experience including the PA's ability to address their medical needs, establish rapport, and provide fast access to care (including same-day and after-hours appointments). Despite preferring to see a physician for more complex concerns, participants felt that PAs demonstrate similar medical knowledge, competencies, and scope of practice as family physicians. Patients demonstrated a solid understanding of the PA role and recognized the collaborative PA–physician relationship. These findings describe successful patient awareness and acceptance of the PA profession, largely due to positive PA–patient interactions in family medicine settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:24:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8d834de64404c15864b26668fc63b00 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-3743 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:24:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Patient Experience |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8d834de64404c15864b26668fc63b002023-11-03T10:03:50ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Patient Experience2374-37432023-11-011010.1177/23743735231211782Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to CareAlexa Moschella HBSc, MD candidateKristen Burrows PhD, CCPAPhysician assistants (PAs) have been integrated into primary care settings to reduce wait times and to optimize continuity of care. Though previous studies suggest that PA utilization leads to improved healthcare access, few studies have investigated patient experience with primary care PAs in Canada. The objective of this study is to explore patient perspectives on primary care PAs in Ontario. A patient survey was developed and distributed to patients seen by PAs in 4 family medicine practices across Ontario, Canada. Results demonstrate that many patients are highly satisfied with their experience including the PA's ability to address their medical needs, establish rapport, and provide fast access to care (including same-day and after-hours appointments). Despite preferring to see a physician for more complex concerns, participants felt that PAs demonstrate similar medical knowledge, competencies, and scope of practice as family physicians. Patients demonstrated a solid understanding of the PA role and recognized the collaborative PA–physician relationship. These findings describe successful patient awareness and acceptance of the PA profession, largely due to positive PA–patient interactions in family medicine settings.https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231211782 |
| spellingShingle | Alexa Moschella HBSc, MD candidate Kristen Burrows PhD, CCPA Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care Journal of Patient Experience |
| title | Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care |
| title_full | Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care |
| title_fullStr | Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care |
| title_short | Patient Experience With Primary Care Physician Assistants in Ontario, Canada: Impact of Trust, Knowledge, and Access to Care |
| title_sort | patient experience with primary care physician assistants in ontario canada impact of trust knowledge and access to care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231211782 |
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