Preparation for Practice: Facilitating the Transition From Student to Physician Associate.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Skills Training
• Physician Associate Studies

Background:

• The transition from Physician Associate (PA) student to practitioner presents significant challenges.
• Universities must adequately prepare PA students for the demands of clinical practice.
• Developing effective clinical communication skills is vital for PA students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a simulation-based course in preparing final year Physician Associate students for clinical practice.
• To assess the impact of the course on developing clinical communication skills.

Main Methods:

• A 1-day 'preparation for practice' course was piloted for final year Physician Associate students.
• The course utilized seven simulated clinical scenarios covering a patient's healthcare journey.
• Simulated events included handover, patient admission, adverse events, end-of-life communication, and death certification.

Main Results:

• 56 out of 57 students provided feedback, rating the course highly.
• 96% of students found the course quality to be high.
• Students reported a statistically significant increase in confidence in complex clinical communication skills (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based courses are effective for practicing complex clinical communication scenarios.
• Role modeling within these courses enhances student preparedness.
• This approach improves Physician Associate students' confidence for clinical practice.