The perceptions of US physician assistants regarding physician assistant-to-physician bridge programs.
OBJECTIVE
Since Dr. Stead first envisioned the physician assistant (PA) profession, there has been discussion of an accelerated PA-to-physician "bridge" program. Despite some conversations in the 1960s and the creation of other professional programs, such as the paramedic-registered nurse bridge, no formal long-term PA-to-physician programs were created in the United States, and the discourse faded over the years. With recent consideration of creating a clinical doctorate PA program of study, discussion has been revived about the need, efficacy, and propriety of a bridge program. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of PAs on the creation of a PA-to-physician bridge program; whether they would support a bridge program, its feasibility, and generally whether or not bridge programs should be initiated.


METHODS
An online survey was sent to a cross-sectional, random sampling of PAs in the United States. The survey used a 5-point Likert scale to assess the perceptions of a PA-to-physician bridge program. A chi-squared analysis was performed to determine significant relationships.


RESULTS
PA respondents were strongly supportive of the bridge program concept; however, knowledge level about such a program was low. The chi-square analysis revealed that gender was the only variable with a significant relationship, with females being most in agreement about the concept.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study may help the PA and medical communities evaluate the applicability, feasibility, and practicality of a PA-to-physician bridge program. There is an overall tendency for PAs to support such a program.
Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs and Research, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Box 13 Wichita, Kansas 67260, USA. richard.muma@wichita.edu
Richard D
RD
Muma
Brandon
B
Phipps
Shawn
S
Vredenburg
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States