PURPOSE: This study was a qualitative study done to investigate the experience of role conflict by physician assistant nurses. METHODS: The basis for this study was qualitative research using the phenomenological method. Research participants were 10 physician assistant nurses. Data collection methodology was in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted 1 to 2 times and each interview lasted within the range of 45 minutes to 2 hours. The data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously and the Colaizzi (1978) methodology was adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: The results showed 46 significant statements, 13 meaningful statements, 7 themes, and 3 clusters of themes. The 3 clusters of themes were: ‘Identity conflict’, ‘Relationship role conflict’ and ‘Institutional role conflict’. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study suggest that legal status guarantees have to be prepared in order to resolve the role conflict of physician assistant nurses.
Data Collection ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Methods ; Physician Assistants ; Qualitative Research ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of job stress, emotional labor, and positive psychological capital on the job satisfaction of physician assistants (PAs). METHODS: The sample consisted of 166 PAs working in general hospitals in B city, Y city, and C city. Data were analyzed through the SPSS/WIN 18.0 program using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The factors of job stress (β=−.488, p<.001), positive psychological capital (β=.188, p=.004), and total clinical career (β=−.147, p=.014) had the greatest influence on the level of job satisfaction experienced by the PAs. The total explanatory power was 49.9%. CONCLUSION: It was found that job stress, positive psychological capital, and total clinical career were influencing factors in the job satisfaction of PAs. Therefore, to improve their job satisfaction, it is necessary to develop strategies to manage the job stress experienced by PAs, and to strengthen and develop positive psychological capital.
Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Physician Assistants ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: This study was intended to investigate the frequency of job performance of the Korean professional medical support staffs (PMSS).METHOD: The data of 1,666 PMSS from 36 hospitals and over 500 beds were analyzed. The participants were divided into 5 groups: advanced practice nurses (APN), clinical nurse experts, physician assistants (PA), coordinators, and others.RESULTS: Among the 5 main domains of job performance, advanced clinical practice has the highest frequency (111.36 d/y), followed by consultation/collaboration (75.66 d/y), education/counseling (53.54 d/y), leadership (23.90 d/y), and research (19.14 d/y). There was a significant difference in the frequency of job performance between the 5 groups of participants. The invasive activities were more frequent in the PA group. In the education and counseling domain, APNs had a higher level of job frequency than others (p < .001). In the research and leadership domains, APNs and coordinators had more prominent performance frequency than other groups (p < .01). However, there are some ambiguities in the job performance of the 5 groups depending on institutional characteristics.CONCLUSION: To establish the scope of work of PMSS, organizational and individual efforts are needed to promote and expand the leadership and research domains. To resolve the ambiguities of PMSS' roles, it is necessary to reorganize their titles.
Counseling ; Education ; Humans ; Job Description ; Leadership ; Methods ; Nurse Clinicians ; Physician Assistants ; Work Performance

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the current statistics of professional medical support staffs(PMSSs) working in general hospitals with less than 500 beds. METHODS: This study was conducted on 35 general hospitals with less than 500 beds from September 11th to October 27th, 2017. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty one PMSSs were currently providing medical support. The number of clinical nurse experts was the highest among the roles, followed by Physician Assistants(PA) and Advanced Practice Nurses. The mean job satisfaction score was 3.07 out of 5. In the case of PA group, most of the delegated prescriptions were performed, however the delegated roles were not much documented in written format. The paucity of documentation requires a development of a committee for PMSSs, including a development of selection criteria and a scope of practice in each institution. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested the composition of a committee for PMSSs in the medical institutions and renaming the specified titles of PMSSs.
Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Nurse Clinicians ; Nurse Practitioners ; Nursing ; Patient Selection ; Physician Assistants ; Prescriptions

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the surgical assistant's level of resident training on operation time and surgical outcome in the surgical treatment of intermittent exotropia. METHODS: This study included 456 patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent lateral rectus recession and medial rectus resection and were followed up for 24 months after surgery. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical assistant's level of resident training: group F (surgery assisted by a first-year resident [n = 198]) and group S (surgery assisted by a second-, third-, or fourth-year resident [n = 258]). The operation time and surgical outcomes (postoperative exodeviation and the number of patients who underwent a second operation) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The average operation times in groups F and S were 36.54 ± 7.4 and 37.34 ± 9.94 minutes, respectively (p = 0.33). Immediate postoperative exodeviation was higher in group F (0.79 ± 3.82 prism diopters) than in group S (0.38 ± 3.75 prism diopters). However, repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed no significant difference in exodeviation between the two groups during the 24-month follow-up period (p = 0.45). A second operation was performed in 29.3% (58 / 198) of the patients in group F, and in 32.2% (83 / 258) of those in group S (p = 0.51). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in operation time was observed when we compared the effects of the level of resident training in the surgical treatment of intermittent exotropia. Although the immediate postoperative exodeviation was higher in patients who had undergone surgery assisted by a first-year resident, the surgical outcome during the 24-month follow-up was not significantly different.
Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Ophthalmic Assistants ; Strabismus

PURPOSE: This is a mixed method study to understand the experience regarding the job satisfaction of Physician Assistant (PA) male nurses. METHODS: First, factors influencing job satisfaction were analyzed using quantitative approach and job adaptation processes by qualitative research was done through interviews. Finally both of the collected data were comprehensively compared. RESULTS: The factors which had the greatest influence on job satisfaction in the regression analysis were job stress (β=-.49, p<.001) and job identity (β=.46, p<.001) and the explanatory power explaining these variables was 58% (Adj. R²=.58). The results of qualitative research were categorized using the same four variables with qualitative research variables. Five themes in job satisfaction, three themes in job identity, five themes in job stress and six themes in job value were identified by content analysis. CONCLUSION: This finding identified that the job stress and job identity were important variables related to job satisfaction. Therefore, the factors influencing job identity have to be strengthened, and a systematic management and interest to develop them are necessary.
Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Male* ; Methods ; Nurses, Male* ; Physician Assistants* ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the nationwide operational status of the professional medical support staffs (PMSS) who practice the expanded roles in the hospital setting. METHODS: The data were obtained through survey from 36 hospitals with over 500 beds from 25th May to 12th July 2016. Data from 1,666 PMSS were analyzed. RESULTS: Since the job titles varied, we classified them into 5 groups according to their roles; advanced practice nurse, clinical nurse expert, PA (physician assistant), coordinator, and others. There were differences in the operation status of PMSSs depending on the region, nurse staffing grade and number of hospital beds. Qualification criteria varied from hospital to hospital, and almost half of the hospitals didn't have any qualification standards for them. There were differences in age, educational level, clinical careers, rewards, and job satisfaction in 5 groups. Especially PA group had low salary, poorer working conditions, more difficulties in performing their work, and lower job satisfaction than other groups. Most PMSS (99.5%) were using a delegated prescription authority, however only 68.3% had job description and 19.9% had documented delegated role. CONCLUSION: Adequate training curriculum, documented delegated roles, and the protocols for legal protection and efficient medical services are needed.
Curriculum ; Humans ; Job Description ; Job Satisfaction ; Nurse Clinicians ; Organization and Administration ; Physician Assistants ; Prescriptions ; Reward ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

PURPOSE: Medical professionals from Korea and Laos have been working together to develop a continuing professional development training program covering the major clinical fields of primary care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program from 2013 to 2014 using the Kirkpatrick model. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to evaluate the reaction of the trainees, and the trainers assessed the level of trainees' performance at the beginning and the end of each clinical section. The transfer (behavioral change) of the trainees was evaluated through the review of medical records written by the trainees before and after the training program. RESULTS: The trainees were satisfied with the training program, for which the average score was 4.48 out of 5.0. The average score of the trainees' performance at the beginning was 2.39 out of 5.0, and rose to 3.88 at the end of each section. The average score of the medical records written before the training was 2.92 out of 5.0, and it rose to 3.34 after the training. The number of patient visits to the district hospitals increased. CONCLUSION: The continuing professional development training program, which was planned and implemented with the full engagement and responsibility of Lao health professionals, proved to be effective.
Education* ; Health Occupations ; Hospitals, District ; Humans ; Korea ; Laos* ; Medical Records ; Physician Assistants* ; Primary Health Care ; Program Evaluation

PURPOSE: As the United States health care model progresses towards medical teams and the country's population continues to diversify, the need for health professional education programs to develop and implement culturally specific interprofessional education (IPE) becomes increasingly imperative. A wide range of models exists for delivering and implementing IPE in health education, but none have included the cultural components that are vital in educating the health professional. METHODS: cross-cultural decentralized IPE model for physician assistant (PA) and physical therapy (PT) students was developed. This three-part IPE series was created using an established cultural curricular model and began with the exploration of self, continued with the examination of various dimensions of culture, and concluded with the exploration of the intersection between health and culture. We assessed student satisfaction of the IPE experiences and students' engagement and attitudes towards IPE using a three-item open-ended questionnaire administered after each cross-cultural activity and the Interprofessional Education Series Survey (IESS) upon the completion of the series. RESULTS: IESS responses showed that PA and PT students reported benefits in interprofessional collaboration and cultural awareness and expressed overall satisfaction with the series. Qualitative analysis revealed growth in student response depth consistent with the scaffolded focus of each IPE module in the series. CONCLUSION: The trends in this three-part series suggest that institutions looking to develop culturally inclusive IPE educational initiatives may have success through a decentralized model mirroring the effective cultural progression focused on addressing exploration of self, examination of various dimensions of culture, and exploration of the intersection between health and culture.
Cooperative Behavior* ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Cultural Competency* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education* ; Health Education ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Personal Satisfaction ; Physical Therapists* ; Physician Assistants* ; United States

PURPOSE: Effective trauma resuscitation requires efficient and coordinated care from a team of providers; however, providers are rarely instructed on how to be effective members of trauma teams. Team-based learning using Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) has been shown to improve team dynamics among practicing professionals, including physicians and nurses. The impact of TeamSTEPPS on students being trained in trauma management in an undergraduate health professional program is currently unknown. We sought to determine the impact of TeamSTEPPS on team dynamics among undergraduate students being trained in trauma resuscitation. METHODS: We enrolled teams of undergraduate health professional students from four programs: nursing, physician assistant, radiologic science, and respiratory care. After completing an online training on trauma resuscitation principles, the participants completed a trauma resuscitation scenario. The participants then received teamwork training using TeamSTEPPS and completed a second trauma resuscitation scenario identical to the first. All resuscitations were recorded and scored offline by two blinded research assistants using both the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) and Trauma Team Performance Observation Tool (TPOT) scoring systems. Pre-test and post-test TEAM and TPOT scores were compared. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 48 students in 12 teams. Team leadership, situational monitoring, and overall communication improved with TeamSTEPPS training (P= 0.04, P=0.02, and P=0.03, respectively), as assessed by the TPOT scoring system. TeamSTEPPS also improved the team's ability to prioritize tasks and work together to complete tasks in a rapid manner (P<0.01 and P=0.02, respectively) as measured by TEAM. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating TeamSTEPPS into trauma team education leads to improved TEAM and TPOT scores among undergraduate health professionals.
Education* ; Education, Professional ; Emergencies ; Health Occupations* ; Humans ; Leadership ; Learning ; Nursing ; Patient Safety ; Physician Assistants ; Resuscitation