A Focus on Point of Care Ultrasonography in Physician Assistant Programs: Increasing the Applicant Pool

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Assistant Studies
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Physician Assistant (PA) programs are crucial for training healthcare providers.
• Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is an increasingly valuable diagnostic tool in clinical practice.
• The integration of novel educational tools in PA programs requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between student perception of POCUS and their decision to apply to a PA program.
• To assess the potential impact of POCUS integration on PA program applicant numbers.

Main Methods:

• A confidential online survey was administered to first-year students in a single PA program.
• The survey gathered data on students' perceptions of POCUS utility and its influence on application decisions.
• Response rate was 96% (53 out of 57 invited students).

Main Results:

• 96% of surveyed students found POCUS to be a useful educational tool.
• 85% of students believed POCUS integration would attract more applicants to the PA program.
• A strong positive correlation was observed between POCUS perception and applicant interest.

Conclusions:

• POCUS is viewed favorably by prospective and current PA students.
• Integrating POCUS into PA curricula may enhance program attractiveness and applicant pools.
• Further research should explore specific POCUS training modules and their long-term impact on clinical skills.