PAs' skills in providing vision and ocular care

Authors

Benjamin Lee, Benjamin Lee practices in the Department of Ophthalmology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, La. Timothy C. McCall is director of research at the National Association of County and City Health Officials and director of health sciences undergraduate courses in the Department of Clinical Research and Leadership at George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C. Noël E. Smith is senior director of PA and industry research and analysis at the American Academy of Physician Associates in Alexandria, Va. Divya Srikumaran is vice chair of education and an associate professor at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Timothy C. McCall
Noël E. Smith
Divya Srikumaran

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Journal

JAAPA : official journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants

Volume

35

Issue

3

DOI

10.1097/01.JAA.0000819560.92687.c5

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate characteristics, training, and self-reported skills and abilities in vision and ocular care among PAs not specializing in ophthalmology. METHODS: A survey on PA practice was administered to 5,763 randomly selected US-based PAs, and 537 respondents who completed the survey were invited to complete a separate vision and ocular care survey. Of those respondents, 382 completed the vision and ocular care survey. RESULTS: Among respondents, 23% of PAs were involved in eyecare by providing patient information, answering questions, and initiating discussions about vision care and ocular health more than once per month. More than 77% received vision and ocular care training in and/or outside PA training. PAs involved in eyecare had significantly greater odds of reporting higher desired and current skill and ability levels compared with PAs not involved in eyecare, in six of eight vision and ocular care domains. CONCLUSIONS: PAs who do not practice in ophthalmology provide vision and ocular care but have varying amounts of training and desire higher skill and ability levels. Ophthalmologists and PA institutions may develop vision and ocular care training for PA schools and continuing medical education.

APA Citation

Lee, Benjamin; McCall, Timothy C.; Smith, Noël E.; and Srikumaran, Divya, "PAs' skills in providing vision and ocular care" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 693.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/693

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership