ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The contribution of physician assistants (PAs) to the German healthcare workforce has increased significantly since their introduction in 2005. From five training programs, the number has increased to the current 18, with 560 PAs awarded the PA bachelor of science degree as of 2020. Despite the growth, researchers lack systemic and reliable empirical data that provide insight into the German PA educational and professional profile. The German University Association Physician Assistant (DHPA) undertook the first nationwide cross-sectional survey on PAs in Germany to understand the German PA movement. This survey aimed to describe German PAs' entry into the profession and PA educational and job satisfaction. METHODS: PA alumni of all universities affiliated with the DHPA and all subscribers of the Facebook online social media platform PA Blog were invited to complete an online questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 282 PAs who completed the survey, 77% were female and under age 25 years. Almost all (94%) were employed, predominantly as PAs (91%, 241 of 265), although some held other positions. Most worked full time (87%), with some citing child-care needs as reasons for part-time employment (n = 21). Few reported unemployment (1.4%, 4 of 282). Eighty-two percent said they would probably or very likely choose the same course of study again. Most employed participants found the inclusion of frequent rotations between didactic and clinical training in PA programs beneficial. However, a small number of participants (26.8%) agreed that German PA programs' didactic and clinical teaching objectives were well aligned. CONCLUSIONS: German PAs have a high level of satisfaction with their profession and report low unemployment. Improvement in the alignment of didactic and clinical educational objectives to improve academic qualifications and satisfaction emerged as an area of research.
Subject(s)
Physician Assistants , Female , Humans , Adult , Male , Cross-Sectional Studies , Physician Assistants/education , Workforce , Job Satisfaction , EmploymentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Demographic change will lead to a serious shortage of doctors in the inpatient and outpatient sectors in the next years. To ensure that medical care is provided in the future, various models of medical assistant professions have been created in the past, both at state and federal level. Due to the diversity of these training courses, advanced training courses and study paths, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of fields of application, focal points of activities, etc. METHOD: An analysis of the currently existing models and professions of physician assistants was carried out. The models considered are VERAH, AgnESzwei, EVA, MoNi, MoPra, OTA/ATA, CTA, ANP and PA. RESULTS: VERAH, AgnESzwei, EVA, MoNi and MoPra carry out their activities in primary care. OTA/ATA, CTA, ANP and PA, on the other hand, are active in clinical inpatient care (PA also in outpatient care). All curricula show significant differences in entrance requirements, length of time and content. VERAH and AgnESzwei, EVA, MoNi and MoPra have the lowest entrance requirements and the shortest advanced training. VERAH and AgnESzwei focus on case management, while OTA/ATA or CTA training and ANP as well as PA studies focus on practical clinical use and the transfer of medical knowledge. While CTAs and OTAs/ATAs can work in the surgery field only and ANP mainly in the nursing field, PA can work both in the clinical and outpatient field. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the already existing doctors shortage, which will increase in the future, medical care can only be guaranteed by interprofessional team building. To this end, the professional associations and the associations of Statutory Health-Insurance physicians are called to develop appropriate models and remuneration.
