Physician Associate Students' Experience of Anatomy Dissection

The role of physician assistant/associate (PA) has expanded from its inception in the United States over 50 years ago, to European countries including Ireland. While there is an increasing body of evidence exploring the role and training of PAs in clinical settings, there is a scarcity of research exploring PA students' perspectives in relation to their experience of anatomy dissection, or how these experiences may contribute to the development of their core professional identity. Students in the first two cohorts of PA Program at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland program were invited to interviews which solicited them to reflect and report on their own experiences of anatomical dissection during their course. Participants' responses were analyzed using a thematic inductive approach; common themes and patterns were organized into a hierarchical structure, which generated the final framework of themes. Ten participants took part in the study; only one had previous personal experience of dissection, while two further participants had some familiarity with prosected specimens. The first theme concerned the participants' expectation of anatomical dissection, with sub-themes of preconceptions, smell, and emotions. The second theme involves discussion of coping strategies that the participants used, including talking, viewing the cadaver as their first patient, and naming (or not naming) the cadaver. The third theme includes how the participants' talked about respect and compassion in the dissection room, development of team working skills, and awareness of bereavement and organ donation. A number of recommendations were also made for the experience and orientation of future students in such a program.