Abstract Details

Title Review of Neuroscience and Neurology Education in Physician Assistant Programs

Topic Education, Research, and Methodology

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-004

Background

Utilization of advanced practice providers (APPs) presents one viable strategy for improving access to neurologic care throughout the practice spectrum. To develop tools for integrating APPs into neurologic practice, the typical knowledge base of an APP entering practice must be understood. To our knowledge, the extent of neurology and neuroscience education in existing APP programs, including PA programs, has not been quantified.

Objective

To describe didactic neuroscience and clinical neurology education in physician assistant (PA) degree programs.

Design/Methods

Curricula of accredited PA programs with enrolled students as of fall 2021 were reviewed for content related to clinical neurology and didactic neuroscience education on official program websites. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 260 accredited programs with enrolled students were identified. 255 of these programs listed information about didactic curriculum and 234 programs listed information about clinical curriculum. 53 program websites (20.8%) indicated the presence of a required neuroscience course, but 134 (53.5%) included no information about any neuroscience content. For programs with required neuroscience and cardiovascular courses, an average of 2.4% of total program hours were dedicated to neuroscience compared with 4.0% dedicated to cardiovascular courses (p < 0.0001). There was 1 program with a required clinical neurology rotation (0.4%).

Conclusions Less than a quarter of accredited PA programs have dedicated neuroscience courses and less than half list information about any neuroscience content on their websites. Clinical experience in neurology is nearly never required. Post-graduate education for these providers should be developed with this in mind. Additionally, advocacy for increased neurological education in PA degree programs is warranted.

Authors/Disclosures
Daniel S. Harrison, MD PRESENTER	Dr. Harrison has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Scientia Imaging.
Margaret Naclerio, PA (Brigham and Women's Hospital)	Ms. Naclerio has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for UCB.
Kathryn Swider (Lahey Hospital and Medical Center)	Dr. Swider has nothing to disclose.
Andrew Busler	No disclosure on file
Lena Liu, MD	Dr. Liu has nothing to disclose.
Andrew T. Yu, MD	Dr. Yu has nothing to disclose.
Christopher T. Doughty, MD (Brigham and Women'S Hospital)	Dr. Doughty has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Argenx. Dr. Doughty has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for UCB. Dr. Doughty has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Adler¦Cohen¦Harvey¦Wakeman¦Guekguezian, LLP. Dr. Doughty has received research support from NINDS/NeuroNEXT. Dr. Doughty has received research support from AstraZeneca. Dr. Doughty has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Grant Advisory Board Member with Dysimmune Diseases Foundation. Dr. Doughty has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a CME Lecturer with Oakstone Publishing.