Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39630007›Full record

ArticleThe journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association2025

Assessing Professional Behaviors of Physician Assistant Students in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: A Scoping Review.

Erika R Francis, Kimberly Sapre

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Erika R FrancisErika R. Francis, DMS, PA-C, is an associate professor, Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia.
Kimberly SapreErika R. Francis, DMS, PA-C, is an associate professor, Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionProfessionalism in physician assistant (PA) students is an essential behavior to assess during formative medical education. Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) provide an opportunity to evaluate PA students performing professional behaviors within simulated clinical settings. This scoping review aims to explore insights the existing literature offers regarding evaluating the professional behaviors of PA students using an OSCE. A secondary objective is to identify gaps in the literature to clarify future research.

methodsThis scoping review was conducted in March 2024. From January 2018 until March 2024, CINAHL, MEDLINE Ultimate, Health Source-Nursing/Education, and PubMed online databases were searched for publications in English. Records included research studying PA or medical students evaluated on professional behaviors using an OSCE or performance-based assessment instrument. Allied health profession students were excluded from the primary search because of their heterogeneous curriculum models outside the population of interest.

resultsThis review includes 5 papers. All papers reported communication as a professional behavior measured in an OSCE or performance-based assessment. A consensus or formal definition of professional behavior is a notable absence in this scoping review. DISCUSSION: More definitive homogenous evidence is needed to assess the professional behaviors of PA students using an OSCE. This limits the guidance and educational standards for future health profession educators. Comprehensive research into professional behaviors among PA students is essential. Scholars must publish their findings on professionalism curriculum design and outcomes to facilitate a broader understanding and improvement in educating future PA professionals.

Indexed as

Educational MeasurementPhysician AssistantsProfessionalismClinical CompetenceCommunicationHumans

Identifiers

PMID39630007
PMCPMC11841713

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.