Date of Award
8-9-2024
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
MS in Physician Assistant Studies (PA)
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
First Advisor
Vanessa Bester
Abstract
Background: Medical specialties such as hospice and palliative care have been proven to improve quality of life for patients facing end-of-life and chronic illness. Though increasing awareness of these specialties has resulted in greater availability, it is essential to investigate the barriers clinicians, such as Physician Assistants, face in making these referrals in order to provide quality healthcare to those who need it. Physician Assistants specifically are an essential clinician group to evaluate, as they continue to become more prevalent in the healthcare system.
Purpose: To determine barriers primary care Physician Assistants face when identifying candidates for and referring to palliative care services early in the disease process.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and ScienceDirect using the search terms palliative care, end of life care, hospice, barriers, physician assistant, education, qualitative, cultural, challenges, innovation, telehealth, improvement, strategies, diversity, and race. Inclusion criteria included studies published in English, peer-reviewed, and published in an academic journal no later than 2010. Limitations to this review are that it does not include non-westernized medicine views, as perspectives about palliative care and other end-of-life services may differ across cultures. Additionally, few research studies are aimed specifically at a Physician Assistant’s role in the care and referral process.
Conclusions: In order to allow for greater access to palliative care services, primary care clinicians, such as primary care PAs, require more training and support surrounding palliative care utilization and principles. Barriers to refer patients early in the disease process to palliative care were identified such as lack of education, inadequacies in interpersonal skills or training in initiating end-of-life discussions, and difficulty addressing unique barriers to care in diverse patient populations.
Identifier
SC 11.PAS.2024.Petersen.C.
Recommended Citation
Petersen, Claire, "Barriers Primary Care Physician Assistants Face in Referring Patients to Palliative Care Services Early in the Disease Process" (2024). Theses and Graduate Projects. 1616.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/etd/1616