Trauma patient satisfaction with physician assistants: testing a structural equation model

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Experience
• Physician Assistant Studies

Background:

• Physician assistants (PAs) play a vital role in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding patient perceptions of PA care is crucial for quality improvement.
• Both interpersonal and technical skills influence patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between perceived interpersonal care, perceived technical care, and global patient satisfaction.
• To investigate if interpersonal care predicts technical care and overall satisfaction with physician assistant services.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with recently discharged trauma patients.
• Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized associations.
• Data from 251 completed surveys were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found among perceived interpersonal care, technical care, and global satisfaction.
• Patient satisfaction with interpersonal care was a significant predictor of satisfaction with technical care.
• The quality of interpersonal interactions directly impacts perceptions of technical competence.

Conclusions:

• Perceptions of technical care provided by physician assistants are closely linked to how patients are treated interpersonally.
• The PA-patient relationship is a valuable asset for healthcare organizations, influencing overall patient satisfaction.
• Emphasizing interpersonal skills in PA training and practice can enhance patient satisfaction and perceived technical quality.