Impact of Integrated Pharmacology Instruction by Principal Faculty Pharmacists in Two Physician Assistant Programs: A Retrospective Study

PURPOSE

In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward integrating pharmacology instruction into physician assistant (PA) programs by dedicated PA faculty pharmacists. Pharmacists train to become medication experts. Incorporating pharmacist instruction in a PA program during the didactic year provides PA students with an early opportunity to experience interprofessional education and interdisciplinary synergy through clinical application.

METHODS

This article presents a retrospective study that aims to evaluate the impact of integrated pharmacology instruction by principal PA faculty pharmacists on student satisfaction and standardized assessment metrics. Student satisfaction was measured by course evaluations and exit/alumni surveys. Standardized metrics included Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool and Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam assessments.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that having a principal faculty member with specialized expertise in pharmacology has improved the overall course satisfaction, knowledge, and competence of PA students and perceptions of the relevance and effectiveness of pharmacology instruction in their clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study support the value of using pharmacist faculty members in PA programs to enhance the quality of pharmacology instruction and ultimately contribute to the success of PA students in their professional careers.

Crafting a Profession: Moving From Innovative Model Programs to a Successful National Profession

The authors review the historical underpinnings of the physician assistant (PA) profession and the tumultuous social context at the time the PA profession was born. They explore the creation of "model" PA programs and the subsequent crafting of the PA profession through 2 distinct "quality control" procedures: the credentialing of PA programs (accreditation) and the credentialing of PA graduates (certification). These pillars of PA education and PA practice brought credibility to a fledgling profession in its early years and stand today as examples of the creative thinking and courage of the architects of a profession that, for the first time in American medical history, allowed someone, other than physicians, to practice medicine.

The Burmese medic: an international physician assistant analogue

Although there have been recent democratic reforms in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), for nearly 60 years there has been a consistent history of human rights violations as part of a civil war waged by the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw. Approximately 3,500 villages have been destroyed by the Tatmadaw during the half-century of civil war. Oppression against minority groups, including the Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Mon, Shan, Chin, and Muslims has adversely affected the health outcomes of these vulnerable populations. Since the mid 1990s, medics have been providing care for the ethnic minorities who were displaced from their homes by the civil war and who live in the jungles of eastern Burma as well as in the refugee camps and towns in the border areas of Thailand. This article will look at how these medics are providing care similar to that provided by physician assistants in the United States.

Factors associated with physician assistant practice in rural and primary care in utah

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).

Perceived relative importance of psychological and physical factors in successful athletic performance

Ratings of the perceived relative importance of psychological and physical factors for successful athletic performance were obtained from 29 men and 53 women in sports of track, swimming, soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, baseball or softball, tennis, diving, and golf, by level of competition (high school, college, and professional), and sex of athlete. The over-all rating of the relative importance of psychological factors was 39%. Significant differences in the ratings of the relative importance of psychological factors were found for sport, level, sex, sport x level, and level x sex. Ratings of the relative importance of psychological factors for successful performance in various sports increased in the order listed above. The significant effect for level and interaction of sport x level were accounted for primarily by the higher ratings given to professional golf. The significant effect of sex and the interaction of sex x level were attributable to higher ratings of the importance of psychological variables for high school women athletes as compared to high school men athletes.

Perceptions of high risk sports

High risk sports were rated as to risk, appeal, and likelihood of participation by 282 men and 162 women. Ascending order of perceived risk was skiing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, rock climbing, motorcycle racing, hang gliding, cliff jumping, and skydiving. Profile analysis showed stated likelihood of participation to be directly related to appeal and inversely related to perceived risk.

Perceived traits of male and female athletes

Profiles of personality traits for male and female athletes were obtained from 133 men and 71 women raters. Traits were rated using a 7-point semantic differential with 11 bipolar items. A profile analysis showed that the profiles of the traits were distinct. There were no significant differences in the ratings by men and women raters. Male athletes were rated as more active, aggressive, competitive, dominating, controlling, instrumental, and public. Female athletes were rated as more goal-oriented, organized, and rule-governed.

[Somatic illness in psychiatric patients]

Psychiatric patients are a vulnerable group in society and have been shown to suffer from a wide range of somatic diseases when admitted to the psychiatric department. During a three month period we examined 174 newly admitted psychiatric patients with the purpose of investigating 1) the frequency of somatic illness, 2) the value of routine blood tests as a screening tool for somatic illness and 3) a possible causality between somatic disease and psychiatric illness. Fifty percent of the patients suffered from a somatic disease and 31% of the patients had a previously undiagnosed disease. The somatic disease was found to be the main cause of admission in 16% of the patients. Older patients and patients with alcohol abuse were found to have the highest prevalence of somatic disease. In conclusion, we found no indication for a screening programme of blood tests, but recommend that selected blood tests based on the clinical examination and history of the individual patient should be taken. Psychiatric patients have a high prevalence of somatic disease, and it is important to direct clinical attention towards this when giving care to psychiatric patients.

A measure of stress for athletic performance

The Athlete Stress Inventory of 49 items was developed. Using factor analysis on the intercorrelations of responses of 148 women student-athletes, four orthogonal factors of stress in athletes were identified-Negative Mood, Team Compatibility, Physical Well-being, and Academic Efficacy. Scales for these factors were reliable and valid. The predictive validity of these scores was investigated by correlations with the athletic performance of 32 women athletes on three intercollegiate teams-tennis, gymnastics, and basketball. Stress scores (except Emotional Mood) reported four days prior to competition tended to be significantly correlated with performance for the individual sports (tennis and gymnastics) but not for the group sport (basket-ball). The correlation involving Physical Well-being was not significant for gymnasts.

Essential health education for deployment in underdeveloped countries

Educating personnel regarding issues related to health and foreign travel has always been an important deployment concern. This article provides general health education guidelines pertinent to any deployment, but especially foreign deployment. The report is intended as a vehicle for initiating the health education process of nonmedical personnel prior to deployment.

Prevention and emergency field management of venomous snakebites during military exercises

Summer exercises in the continental United States bring many military personnel in contact with our four types of indigenous venomous snakes. Personnel with a knowledge of these snakes, their habits, and habitat, and who exercise common sense are much less likely to fall victim to a venomous bite. When a bite does occur, timely and appropriate first aid can help to reduce the sequelae of an envenomation. Military medical personnel should be prepared to discuss snakebite prevention and field management with all personnel taking to the field this summer.

Perception of enclosure effects of architectural surfaces in a large scale interior space

It was hypothesized that the perceived enclosure effect of spaces would be dependent upon the explicitness of presented architectural surfaces according to the 1961-1970 model of Thiel. It was also hypothesized that the contribution of the surfaces would adhere to theoretical weights proposed by Thiel. It was further hypothesized that the perceived contribution of the surfaces to enclosure would be similar for men and women. 20 women and 10 men were presented 24 line drawings in one-point, eye-level perspective of the same furnished and occupied interior space. The line drawings differed only in the absence or presence of floor, wall, or ceiling surfaces. On an initial task the spaces represented by the drawings were ordered by the subjects from least enclosed (most open) to most enclosed (least open). In a second task the surfaces in a diagram were ranked according to their relative importance in determining the perception of the enclosing effect. The hypotheses were confirmed, and so provided support for the model that the explicitness of perceived surfaces contribute differentially to the perception of the openness of an environment.

Quantitative muscle strength testing: a comparison of job strength requirements and actual worker strength among military technicians

In this study the authors investigate the percentage of mismatch between job demands and worker physical capacity in Utah National Guard mechanics. This population had demonstrated a higher incidence of low back trouble than other job descriptions reviewed. The authors utilized onsite still and videotape photography and a computerized biomechanical strength prediction model to assess loads on the lumbosacral spine due to various job tasks. Job demands were then compared to the actual physical capacity of the individual workers based on static strength testing in job-related positions. A load cell on the testing apparatus entered the force generated into a computer which averaged the force of the last three seconds of a five-second lift. It was determined that as much as a 38% mismatch existed within this population for some job tasks which these workers were exposed to. Suggestions for preventing job-related low back cumulative trauma disorders are presented, including: engineering redesign, worker selection programs, work hardening, and others.

Malignant lesions of the eyelid

Malignant tumors of the eyelid and ocular adnexa are often detected during routine examinations. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common of these tumors, followed by squamous cell carcinoma. Sebaceous gland carcinoma and malignant melanoma are seen less frequently. Malignant eyelid tumors may mimic a number of benign conditions. Early diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, and biopsy of the lesion is often necessary.

Maxillary sinusitis--the focus of toxic shock syndrome in a male patient

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Effects of an observer on conformity to handwashing norm

Women were observed after elimination in a public restroom to determine the effects of the presence or absence of an observer upon the likelihood of handwashing. 18 of 20 subjects in the presence of another and 3 of 19 who were not observed washed. The difference in frequency of handwashing between the two groups was clearly significant.

Perception of spatial and social density

The effects of family size on the perception of three abstract rooms that differed in social and spatial density were studied. The rooms were rated on the dimensions, evaluation, spirituality, activity, and aesthetic appeal. Of the 48 subjects half were from large families with six or more members, and half were from smaller families. Family size had no effect on the perception of the rooms. The room low in spatial density was perceived most favorably, and there was no difference in the perception of a room high in social density and one high in spatial density.

Effects of size of home town on environmental perception

168 subjects used a 23-item semantic differential to rate forest, beach, small town, desert, and large city. The ratings served as dependent variables for 23 3 X 56 X 5 analyses of variance employing size of home town, subjects within size of home town, and type of environment. Size of home town was a significant effect on one of 23 scales; subjects from large and medium-sized cities rated environments more toward the good end of the good-bad scale than subjects from small towns. All main effects for type of environment were significant. The order in which environments were rated depended upon the particular rating scale. Significant interactions of home town by environment were examined in terms of the differential patterns of environmental ratings produced by subjects from various sized home towns.

Self-disclosure, body-accessibility, and personal space

Measures of self-disclosure, body-accessibility, and personal space were given to 170 male Ss. Body-accessibility toward mother, father, and best male friend were highly interrelated; body-accessibility toward best female friend was independent of the others Body-accessibility was related to self-disclosure toward each of the four target persons. Studying male peers only, personal space was not related to self-disclosure, but it was related to body-accessibility.

Relationships among self, other, and consensual personal space

Measures of self, other, and consensual personal space in relation to a target person were administered to 170 male Ss. No significant mean differences and high intercorrelations were found among the personal space measures. It was concluded that the personal space of a person is affected by the personal space of another person, and both the personal space of the self and the other determine the personal space between them that is consensually obtained.

Effects of video playback of a person on his self-concept

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of a video playback of a person on his self-concept. Ss in teams of 3 were randomly assigned to a video playback condition (VP) or a no video playback condition (NVP). Each team had both VP and NVP Ss. All Ss taught a 7-min. lesson which was video recorded. The VP Ss saw a video playback of their presentation, and both VP and NVP Ss completed measures of Body-cathexis, Self-cathexis, Self-concept, Public-self, Teacher-self, Self-acceptance, Self-criticality, Dominance and Self-assurance, and Flexibility. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference between the VP and NVP Ss on each of the self-concept variables measured. Although no significant differences were found, the direction of difference was significantly consistent. Following a video playback Ss tended to perceive themselves more favorably.

Personality correlates of children's self-esteem and parental identification

The California Test of Personality (CTP) with 15 subscales, the Sears Self-concept Inventory which measures self-esteem, and an Identification Inventory were administered to 34 girls and 37 boys ranging in age from 9 to 15 yr. The subscores of the CTP were correlated with both self-esteem and level of identification for both males and females. The self-esteem of males but not females was related to the personality measures, and the level of identification of females but not males was related to the personality subscales.

Effects of anxiety and stress on accuracy of interpersonal perception

Metaperspective (MP) refers to a person's perception of another person's perception of him. It was hypothesized that: (a) high anxiety (HA) Ss would be less accurate in MP than low anxiety (LA) Ss; (b) LA Ss would be more accurate in MP than HA Ss in a stress situation; (c) there would be no sex differences in accuracy of MP; and (d) in like-sexed dyads, there would be more accurate MP than in opposite-sexed dyads. 8 groups were formed, each including 2 HA males, 2 HA females, 2 LA males, and 2 LA females. After having completed a self-concept scale 4 groups were assigned to a non-stress condition and 4 to a stress condition. All Ss then completed a stress questionnaire and scales measuring their perception of each S and their perception of each S's perception of them. None of the hypotheses were accepted.

Increase and decrease in light and noise stimuli as reinforcers for albino rats

The effect upon response latencies of random increases or decreases in stimulus intensity following a barrier-crossing response in a Mowrer-Miller shuttle box was studied. Stimulus change was contingent upon the response. 32 albino rats were randomly assigned to a control group which received no stimulation and to three experimental groups: Group L (subjected to changes in light), Group N (subjected to changes in noise), and Group LN (subjected to changes in light and noise). It was found that (a) in terms of mean latencies Group LN differed significantly from Group L and the control group. (b) Although the trial effect was significant, response latency did not consistently decrease over trials. (c) The mean number of spontaneous crossings was significantly larger for Group LN than for all other groups. (d) The mean number of spontaneous crossings increased over trials.

Personality correlates of actual self-disclosure

A questionnaire which obtained actual self-disclosure about five topics—interests, personality, studies, body, and money—and instruments which measured seven personality traits were administered to 52 Ss. Seven self-disclosure scores were obtained from the questionnaire, one depth rating for each topic, a total depth score (sum of the five topic depth ratings), and an amount of disclosure score (count of words written in responding to all five topic areas). All self-disclosure measures were correlated with the personality variables for males and females separately and also with sex. No significant relationships were found between the personality variables and the measures of self-disclosure for females. However, data suggested that more emotionally unstable males tended to disclose more about their personality and their health and physical appearance than the stable males. Although no significant correlations were found between masculinity-femininity as a personality trait and the measures of actual disclosure, females tended to disclose more than males about all topics except “money.”

Effects of the interpersonal game upon intra- and interpersonal concepts, personality characteristics, and interpersonal relationships

Playing The Interpersonal Game (IG) should result in (a) increased congruence between a player's self-concept and his self-ideal, between his ideal concept of the other player and the other player's self-ideal, and between his concept of the other player and the other player's self-concept, (b) lowered scores on the MMPI scales of Ai, D, Hy, Sc, Hs, and Pa, and an increased score on the MMPI Es scale, and (c) an improved relationship with the other player. Two groups were formed at random, an experimental group which played the IG consisting of 15 boy-girl pairs and a control group of 16 boy-girl pairs which did not play the game. Pre- and posttests, using a Self and Others Rating Scale, the MMPI, and an Interpersonal Relationship Rating Scale were administered to all Ss. Appropriate t tests comparing the mean change scores for the game group with the controls failed to confirm any of the hypotheses.