title: Predicting the degree of rurality of physician assistant practice location.
abstract: This study used a block multiple regression analysis to examine the impacts of different factors on the degree of rurality of physician assistants' (PAs') practice location and compared the power of each block of factors in predicting rurality. Differences in the models for PAs in primary care specialties and for PAs as a whole were also explored. The findings suggest that policies should provide support to PA students in primary care specialties and to rural-oriented PA education/training programs. Efforts to facilitate PA recruitment and retention should include, among other things, increasing practice responsibility/autonomy, broadening acceptance of PA prescriptive authority, and providing equitable reimbursement for nonphysician care of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks 58202, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Muus
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D008019:Life Style; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce