Perceptions of U.S. physician assistants (PAs), PA faculty and physicians regarding the entry-level doctoral degree in physician assistant education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of physicians with PAs and PA faculty regarding an entry level Doctorate of Physician Assistant (DPA) degree. This 2009 cross-sectional study surveyed representative samples of physicians, PAs and PA faculty in the U.S. The response rate was 15% (n=832; PA=351, PA faculty=302 and Physician=179). Chi-square analyses showed that physician responses were less congruent with PA and PA faculty responses (p＜.001). For example, PAs (79.1%), PA Faculty (95.1%) and physicians (56.2%) agreed that the master’s degree was sufficient for PA practice. Physician assistants and PA faculty were not supportive of the DPA. However, the results raise some questions about the perceptions of physicians. If the move to the DPA is considered in the future, information and data from this study may be beneficial.