Practice-Related Factors,Practice Satisfaction,and the Health Care System

Abstract

An examination of Physician Assistants' (PAs) views relating to various aspects of theirprofession was accomplished through a mailed attitudinal questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 72.1%. Items examined were practice satisfaction, views toward the effects of a physician surplus, view toward third-party reimbursement, view of legal restraints, practice attributes, demographics, and feeling of patient acceptance. Respondents on average felt satisfied with their practice and reported high patient acceptance. The most dissatisfied PAs were younger, spent more time in practice-related travel, were involved more in telephone patient care, felt there were too many PAs, andfelt less acceptance by their patients. Significant correlation was found between practice dissatisfaction and lack of opportunity to function independently, a feeling that skills and training did not match current practice needs, a negative feeling toward a possible physician surplus, and afeeling of underutilization.