Bowen Denise J, Mickus Maureen, Rosales Alma N
Denise J. Bowen, MA, PA-C, is an associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Maureen Mickus, PhD, MSG, is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. Alma N. Rosales, BS, is an occupational therapy student in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
J Physician Assist Educ. 2018 Mar;29(1):35-38. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000185.
Attitudes regarding health-related deservingness of care for vulnerable patient populations can impact the quality of services provided. This study was aimed at identifying the influences that shape these attitudes among physician assistant (PA) students.
The study focused on PA students' perspectives toward care for a particularly vulnerable population, undocumented Mexican immigrants. An in-person survey was administered to first- and second-year PA students (n = 75). Multiple regression was used to assess whether familiarity, stereotyping, language skills, cultural preparedness, societal views, and background characteristics of PA students influenced attitudes toward deservingness of care.
Results suggested that cultural preparedness among PA students was associated with positive views toward deservingness of both emergency services (β = 0.38, p < .001) and primary care (β = -0.211, p = .05) for undocumented Mexicans. Negative societal views toward this population predicted an unwillingness to endorse emergency care (β = -0.43, p < .001) and primary care (β = -0.45, p < .001).
Demographic projections indicate continued trends toward increasingly diverse patient populations, with dramatic growth among Hispanics. The findings of this study suggest that greater cultural preparedness is needed for future PAs. Furthermore, strategies for increasing PA students' self-awareness of how their broader societal views shape service delivery are warranted to ensure equitable care.
对于弱势群体与健康相关的应得护理的态度会影响所提供服务的质量。本研究旨在确定影响医师助理（PA）学生这些态度的因素。
该研究聚焦于PA学生对一类特别弱势群体——无证墨西哥移民护理的看法。对一、二年级PA学生（n = 75）进行了面对面调查。采用多元回归分析来评估PA学生的熟悉程度、刻板印象、语言技能、文化准备、社会观点及背景特征是否会影响对应得护理的态度。
结果表明，PA学生的文化准备与对无证墨西哥人应得急诊服务（β = 0.38，p < .001）和初级护理（β = -0.211，p = .05）持积极看法有关。对该群体的负面社会观点预示着不愿意认可急诊护理（β = -0.43，p < .001）和初级护理（β = -0.45，p < .001）。
人口预测表明患者群体日益多样化的趋势仍在持续，西班牙裔人群增长显著。本研究结果表明，未来的PA需要更强的文化准备。此外，有必要采取策略提高PA学生对其更广泛的社会观点如何影响服务提供的自我认知，以确保公平护理。
