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Concerns About Bias in the Physician Associate Admissions Process: A Prephysician Associate Perspective
Darren T Ngo1,2,3, Mitchell J Barnett1,2,3, Eric J Ip1,2,3
1Darren T. Ngo, MS, MAT, PA-C, ATC, is a PA student graduate, Stanford School of Medicine-E.D. Stone Edwards Building, Stanford, California.
Introduction:
Increasing diversity in the physician associate (PA) profession is important for enhancing patient care. Recognizing barriers such as bias in the PA program admissions process is essential for programs seeking to enroll more diverse students. This study investigates whether pre-PA students are concerned about bias in the admissions process and whether underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM-Med), sexual or gender minority (SGM), or low socioeconomic status (SES) groups express greater concern. It also explores the impact of various support types on perceptions of bias.
Methods:
Between February and March 2023, pre-PA students and PA students completed a 55-item online survey, the "2023 AAPA Student Survey," which included demographic questions and concerns about bias in the admissions process measured on a 5-point Likert scale.
Results:
Out of 675 pre-PA students, 606 completed the survey. A majority (61.1%) expressed concern about bias, with a mean score of 3.65 ± 1.05. URM-Med (67.0% vs. 58.1%, P = .04), SGM (77.8% vs. 59.4%, P = .01), and low SES students (75.2% vs. 57.4%, P < .01) were more concerned than their counterparts. SGM (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.18-4.73) and low SES (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.04-2.73) students were more likely to be concerned about bias. Having an academic mentor was a protective factor against concern about bias (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.99).
Discussion:
The majority of pre-PA students are concerned about admissions bias, particularly SGM and low SES students. Academic mentorship appears to reduce these concerns, suggesting PA programs should enhance mentorship to support diverse applicants and mitigate bias.
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