Opinions, attitudes and expectations of physician assistants with a master’s degree about clinical qualification: empirical sociological research
General Medicine, 2024, 26(5), 3-10.
P. Vracheva1, J. Marinova2, A. Yordanova2, R. Gardeva2
1 Department of Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University ‒ Stara Zagora
2 Department of Social Medicine, Health Management and DM, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University ‒ Stara Zagora
Abstract. The dynamically developing and globalizing environment, in which physician assistants are trained and professionally realized, provokes the introduction of education programs with profile qualification and master’s degree in Bulgaria. They will allow the acquisition of a higher qualification level and staff satisfaction, subsequent full realization in the country, in accordance with the public interests and the effective use of the physician potential on a national scale. Aim: To research and analyze the opinions, attitudes and expectations of physician assistants with master’s degree about establishment of education programs for clinical qualification. Materials and Methods: An empirical sociological study was conducted with three groups of respondents: 53 physician assistants (PAs) practicing the profession; 120 students принципиfrom the “Physician Assistant” specialty and 15 experts – university teachers of physician assistants. Study period: April – July 2023; scope of the research – national. Sociological methods for quantitative and qualitative analysis were applied: direct electronic anonymous survey and modified Delphi method. Research instruments: survey questionnaires were developed by the authors for this study purposes. Results and conclusion: The positive opinions, expectations and attitudes towards the topic among the surveyed groups of respondents are convincing: the answer “Yes” regarding clinical qualification and master’s degree was declared by 98% of PAs practitioners, 92% of students and 67% of the experts and was supported by arguments. The realization of the prospective is a matter of political will and foresight, taking into account the positives that will be achieved with the education policy.
Key words: physician assistants, training, clinical qualification, master’s degree
Address for correspondence: Penka Vracheva, e-mail: penka.vracheva@trakia-uni.bg