Well-being and the early-career PA: Influence of the collaborative physician relationship

Objective: Recent updates to physician associate/assistant (PA) laws reflect less mandated supervision. Although greater autonomy may inspire experienced PAs, newer PAs may struggle with less required oversight. This study examined the influence of autonomy, career length, and the quality of the collaborative physician (CP) relationship on PA well-being.

Methods: A secondary analysis of data gathered in 2018 by the American Academy of Physician Associates was conducted using bivariate and multiple linear regression with moderated mediation.

Results: Years of experience positively predicted PA well-being and negatively predicted the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP. The interaction of the percentage of time spent consulting with a CP and the quality of the CP relationship mediated the relationship between years of experience and well-being.

Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that the quality of the CP relationship is most salient to the well-being of early-career PAs who spend more time in consultation with CPs.