Physician assistant: motivations and perceptions of the profession

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with the current gender gap in the Physician Assistant (PA) profession.

Participants: Sixty-six physician assistant students from three physician assistant programs in southern California.

Method: We enrolled a focus group at each school. We used four open-ended questions to explore the participants' reasons for choosing the PA profession. In addition, participants completed a demographic questionnaire. Using qualitative analysis, we identified three themes among the participants' responses.

Results: Responses were grouped in the following categories: 1. Motivations for becoming a PA; 2. Flexibility and autonomy; and 3. Perceptions of a gender gap.

Conclusions: There are several factors that contribute to the gender gap in the PA profession. Health professions with a gender gap may consider these factors to design a supportive environment for genders as well as re-examine marketing targets and educational awareness.