Physician Assistant Student Attitudes About People With Serious Mental Illness

Matthew A McQuillan; Matthew Wright; Michelle R Zechner; Elizabeth Di Prospero; Sean Karyczak; Meredith L Cimmino; Ann A Murphy

doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000564

Physician Assistant Student Attitudes About People With Serious Mental Illness

J Physician Assist Educ. 2023 Nov 21. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000564. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Matthew A McQuillan^{1

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7}, Matthew Wright^{1

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7}, Michelle R Zechner^{1

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7}, Elizabeth Di Prospero^{1

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7}, Sean Karyczak^{1

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7}, Meredith L Cimmino^{1

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7}, Ann A Murphy^{1

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7}

Affiliations

¹ Matthew A. McQuillan, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, is a chair of Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Practice and associate professor of School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
² Matthew Wright, MS, PA-C, RD, is a lecturer of School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
³ Michelle R. Zechner, PhD, LSW, CPRP, is an associate professor of Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, Rutgers, School of Health Professions, Piscataway, New Jersey.
⁴ Elizabeth Di Prospero, MD, is a medical director, Physician Assistant Program of School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
⁵ Sean Karyczak, MS, CRC, is an assistant research coordinator of Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
⁶ Meredith L. Cimmino, PT, DPT, is an adjunct instructor of Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.
⁷ Ann A. Murphy, PhD, CPRP, is a director of Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and an associate professor of Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions, School of Health Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey.

PMID: 37991263
DOI: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000564

Abstract

Purpose: This study explored the attitudes of physician assistant (PA) students toward the future care of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Physician assistant student education offers a unique opportunity to confront and reduce bias toward individuals with SMI. However, no previous literature has documented PA student attitudes toward SMI.

Methods: Preclinical students (n = 7) from a single PA program were invited to participate in 2 focus groups exploring attitudes toward the future care of patients with SMI. The focus groups lasted approximately 60 minutes and were conducted by non-PA faculty using a question guide.

Results: Four themes emerged from interviews: perceptions about the population, knowledge of mental health conditions, approach to care, and program curriculum input.

Conclusion: Several themes aligned with the participant's level of training. Participants demonstrated didactic knowledge yet lacked clinical exposure to provide context. Future studies should focus on developing interactive learning techniques to prepare students for patients with SMI.