Physician assistant for gynecology - exploring awareness and acceptance in Germany

The Physician Assistant (PA) bachelor's degree program has been available in Germany for several years, and PAs are progressively being hired and assigned to hospitals. Although the German Medical Association has developed a curriculum, the specific roles and potential duties of PAs in hospitals remain undefined. This study aims to explore the various applications and responsibilities of PAs within the field of gynecology.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, a cross-sectional, web-based, and anonymized survey was sent to gynecologists via the mailing lists of the Young Forum of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) and through their Instagram account. A total of 120 surveys were collected, of which 97 were completed. The topics of the questionnaire were related to the expected integration of PAs in routine working tasks in the hospital.

This study shows that a significant proportion of respondents considered administrative duties (80%), blood sampling (95%), inserting intravenous catheters (95%), taking medical histories (81%), and conducting ward rounds under medical supervision (65%) to be suitable tasks for Physician Assistants (PAs). In contrast, procedures such as transvaginal sonography (22%), sonographic interventions (15%), and educational tasks (31%) were deemed unsuitable for delegation to PAs.

The introduction of PAs in gynecology may be integrated into everyday clinical practice, but the specific tasks should be clearly defined. Establishing these conditions may have the potential to enhance job satisfaction for doctors.