Physician assistants in occupational healthcare: A descriptive research study of patient satisfaction

The purpose of this research study is to quantitatively evaluate if patients are satisfied with the care they receive by physician assistant (PA) in a Connecticut occupational healthcare facility when compared to the care received by a physician. In order to understand the conceptual framework of measuring patient satisfaction and the effect pain has on the patients' quality of life validated research instruments containing specific well characterized parameters were utilized. Voluntary participants presenting with a work related injury that required follow-up visits were chosen for this study and treated by either the PA or physician. The data was collected utilizing a descriptive methodology through the distribution of two questionnaires, the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-III and the Dallas Pain Questionnaire, and statistically analyzed by The Minimax Consulting Group, LLC. The results obtained from this study indicated that patients were as satisfied and benefited at least as much from care received from a PA as that received from a physician. Additionally, patient satisfaction correlated favorably with improved treatment outcomes as well as decreased measured pain levels at discharge. Conclusions from this study also support the expansion of the Connecticut occupational health center practice by incorporating more PAs to advance quality, collaborative healthcare for its occupational catchment community.