Coombs Jennifer M, Morgan Perri, Pedersen Donald M, Koduri Sri, Alder Stephen C
Physician Assistant Program, The University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Int J Family Med. 2011;2011:879036. doi: 10.1155/2011/879036. Epub 2011 Aug 3.
Physician Assistants (PAs) have become an integral part of the United States (U.S.) health care system since the profession began in the late 1960s. PAs have been suggested as solutions to predicted physician shortages especially in primary care. This study examined the predictors of primary care and rural practice patterns of PAs in Utah. A cross sectional survey design was utilized. The outcome variables were practice specialty and practice location. The predictor variables were age, gender, number of years in practice, location of upbringing, and professional school of graduation. There was a response rate of 67.7%. The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) provided the list of licensed PAs in the state. Physician assistants who reported being raised in rural communities were 2.29 times more likely to be practicing in rural communities (95% CI 0.89-5.85). Female PAs had lower odds of practicing in a rural area (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10-0.66). Female PAs had lower odds of practicing in primary care versus their male counterparts (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.96). Graduation from the Utah PA Program was more likely to result in primary care practice (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.34-3.49).
自20世纪60年代末医师助理（PA）这一职业诞生以来，他们已成为美国医疗保健系统不可或缺的一部分。有人认为医师助理是解决预计出现的医生短缺问题的办法，尤其是在初级保健领域。本研究调查了犹他州医师助理初级保健及农村执业模式的预测因素。采用了横断面调查设计。结果变量为执业专科和执业地点。预测变量为年龄、性别、执业年限、成长地点和毕业专业院校。回复率为67.7%。犹他州职业与专业执照颁发部门（DOPL）提供了该州持照医师助理的名单。报告在农村社区长大的医师助理在农村社区执业的可能性是其他人的2.29倍（95%置信区间0.89 - 5.85）。女性医师助理在农村地区执业的几率较低（比值比：0.26；95%置信区间：0.10 - 0.66）。与男性医师助理相比，女性医师助理从事初级保健工作的几率较低（比值比：0.56；95%置信区间：0.33 - 0.96）。毕业于犹他州医师助理项目的人更有可能从事初级保健工作（比值比：2.16；95%置信区间：1.34 - 3.49）。
