title: Twenty Years of Growth and Innovation: A Reflection on PACKRAT's Impact on Physician Assistant Education.
abstract: In its 20th year, the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) is a student self-assessment that can assist physician assistant (PA) students and PA program faculty in identifying strengths and areas in need of improvement in the didactic and clinical phases of PA education. In this reflection, we provide an overview of the history of PACKRAT and outline some of its benefits for students and PA programs, as well as its generative role in assessment within PA studies. Taking a broader view of PACKRAT's impact on assessment for the PA profession, we outline the research on its benefits and its use to maximize student performance, as well as how it has promoted the development of additional assessment tools.
authors.affiliation: Kim Cavanagh, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, is director of assessment and evaluation, Duke University, Physician Assistant Program, Durham, North Carolina. Donovan Lessard, MA, is manager, evaluation and assessment, Physician Assistant Education Association, Washington, DC. Zach Britt, BS, is director, academic affairs, Physician Assistant Education Association, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cavanagh
authors.forename: Donovan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.forename: Zach
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Britt
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D012647:Self-Assessment