title: Novice Physician Assistant Learning During the Transition to Practice: A Q Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe how novice physician assistants (PAs) transfer learning from formal training into clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  This Q study was conducted as a part of a larger mixed-interpretive investigation of the experiences of novice PAs during the first 2 years of practice. A set of 45 statements was naturally sampled from 10 previously conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with novice PAs. Fifteen different novice PAs then sorted the statements. The data were analyzed using by-person factor analysis (Q methodology). The resultant factor array was used to generate a summary, a sketch, and a monologue for each shared social perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three shared social perspectives concerning transfer of learning during the transition to practice emerged: (1) partnership, (2) self-reliant, and (3) insecure perspectives. Novice PAs sharing the partnership perspective experienced few, if any, individual or environmental obstacles to transfer of learning. Novice PAs sharing the self-reliant perspective experienced environmental obstacles-but few, if any, individual obstacles-to transfer of learning. Novice PAs who shared the insecure perspective experienced both individual and environmental obstacles to transfer of learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study describe variability in the novice PA experiences of learning transfer during the first 2 years of practice. The results have implications for PA educators and those involved in helping novice PAs develop as clinicians.
authors.affiliation: J. Glenn Forister, PhD, PA-C, is an associate professor at the Oregon Health & Science University, School of Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Education, in Portland, Oregon. Dominique T. Chlup, EdD, is a former associate professor at the Texas A&M University, Department of Education and Human Development, in College Station, Texas.
authors.forename: J Glenn
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Forister
authors.forename: Dominique T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Chlup
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D024382:Professional Role; D000078329:Workforce