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Association Between Stress and Program Length in Underrepresented Minority Physician Assistant Students
1Michelle McWeeney, PhD, PA-C, is an assistant professor for the Seton Hall University Physician Assistant Program in Nutley, New Jersey.
Summary
Shorter physician assistant (PA) programs correlate with better physical well-being for students. However, older age, male gender, and higher debt negatively impact both physical and emotional well-being.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Physician Assistant Studies
- Student Well-being
Background:
- Physician Assistant (PA) programs are crucial for training healthcare professionals.
- Student well-being, encompassing emotional and physical health, is vital for academic success.
- Understanding factors influencing PA student stress is essential for program development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between PA program length and student stress.
- To examine stress measures, including emotional and physical well-being, in PA students.
- To specifically assess underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) within PA programs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2019 End of Program survey data.
- Multiple regression modeling to predict well-being scores.
- Inclusion of variables: PA program length, age, gender, PA school debt, and URM status.
Main Results:
- Shorter PA programs were linked to higher physical well-being.
- No significant difference in well-being was found between URM and non-URM students.
- Older students, males, and those with higher debt reported lower emotional and physical well-being.
Conclusions:
- Shorter PA program lengths may optimize physical well-being for all students.
- Further research is required to determine optimal program structures and student experiences.
- Addressing factors like age, gender, and financial debt is important for supporting PA student health.
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