Basic skills workshop for physician assistant educators: effects of participation on perceived mastery of teaching skills and job satisfaction.
OBJECTIVE
The study examined participation in the Basic Skills Faculty Development Workshops (BSW) offered by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). The aim was to determine the effects of participation on perceived mastery of teaching skills and job satisfaction.


METHODS
The 1,290 faculty and program director members of PAEA were invited to complete an electronic survey regarding their past participation in a BSW, levels of satisfaction with various aspects of their work, and their perception of their level of mastery of various teaching skills. Additionally, those who had participated in these workshops completed a section on colleague relationships that were developed or strengthened through workshop participation.


RESULTS
Approximately half (n = 248) of the 493 respondents had participated in a BSW. Mean scores for satisfaction with salary, rank, position, and overall satisfaction did not differ significantly according to BSW participation. Perceived mastery of various teaching skills was significantly higher for nonattendees of BSW. However, controlling for "years in physician assistant education" nullified that association. Attendees reported a mean of 1.02 (SD = 1.47) new mentoring relationships and 2.45 (SD = 2.97) new peer relationships. Satisfaction with current position was significantly positively correlated with the number of colleague relationships. The number of new and strengthened mentor relationships correlated significantly with perceived mastery of advising students.


CONCLUSIONS
Basic Skills Workshop attendees experience acceleration in their perceived mastery of teaching skills, closing the proficiency gap between them and their more-experienced colleagues who did not attend a Basic Skills Workshop. Also, participation is associated with an increased number of colleague relationships, which has a positive effect on satisfaction.
Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Elon University, Campus Box 2087, Elon, NC 27244, USA. bquincy@elon.edu
Brenda
B
Quincy
Mark
M
Archambault
Mona
M
Sedrak
Alison C
AC
Essary
Claire
C
Hull
D000328:Adult; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D044469:Racial Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013663:Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors