Factors that influence Canadian physician assistants to practice rurally: a survey response
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Date
2020
Authors
MacLean, Elise
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Abstract
Introduction: A shortage of healthcare professionals is thought to be a driving force behind
access barriers in rural Canada. The use of Physician assistants (PAs) as healthcare providers in remote areas can help mitigate this shortage. There is currently no research available on rural Canadian PAs to assess factors that influence the choice to practice rurally. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine specific factors that had influenced currently practicing rural Canadian PAs to choose rural practice. This study also served to assess whether having a rural upbringing or participating in a rural rotation is positively related to choosing to practice medicine rurally. Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study conducted through an electronic survey. Main outcomes of this study included examining the significance of 12 factors on the choice to practice rurally as well as whether completing a rural rotation or having a rural upbringing was significantly correlated to rural practice. Results: The top three factors most significantly influencing a PAs decision to practice rurally were (1) increased level of autonomy, (2) type of practice, (3) scope of practice. There was a positive relationship between having a rural upbringing and practicing. There was no relationship between completing a rural rotation and practicing rurally. Conclusions: Individuals are more likely to choose rural practice if they had a rural upbringing. Canadian PA schools wishing to possibly increase recruitment can use the above results. Prospective employers can also use the above results to help attract more PAs to rural opportunities.
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Keywords
physician assistant