Number
515
Name
Examining resource use in the longitudinal assessment exam for recertification among physician assistants/associates
Date & Time
Monday, June 8, 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location Name
Oglethorpe Ballroom
Speakers
Authors
Mirela Bruza, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Andrzej Kozikowski, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Dawn Morton-Rias, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Kasey Puckett, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Joshua Goodman, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Presentation Topic(s)
Other
Description
PURPOSE
Evidence-based practice databases/resources are considered gold standards
in clinical practice. One pathway for physician assistants/associates (PAs)
recertification is the Physician Assistant National Recertifying
Exam-Longitudinal Assessment (PANRE-LA), designed to assess/promote learning
and reflect the realities of everyday clinical practice. The purpose of this
study is to explore the resources PAs use when answering PANRE-LA questions.
METHODS
We analyzed 2024 national survey data from PAs who were participating in
the PANRE-LA (8,702; 20.3% response rate). The primary questions of interest
for the current analysis were related to online/print resources PAs used to
assist with exam questions. We conducted descriptive and bivariate analyses
to examine the types of resources used, their helpfulness, and whether participants
had sufficient time to utilize them. Additionally, we examined the type of
resources used by PA demographics and practice attributes.
RESULTS
Most PAs (93.9%) used online/printed resources to assist in answering
PANRE-LA questions. Among PAs who used resources, 54.4% reported them as
moderately/very helpful, and 79.7% indicated they had sufficient time to
consult the resources they used. We found statistically significant
differences (p<0.05) by demographics and practice attributes. Younger PAs,
those who self-identified as female, and those from groups historically
underrepresented in medicine were more likely to use resources to answer the
PANRE-LA questions. Among PAs who indicated using resources, UpToDate (70.8%)
was cited as the most helpful, followed by general search engine (66.6%),
government websites (23.9%), epocrates (21.9%), PANRE-LA reference guide
(19.9%), medscape (19.0%), professional sites (14.2%), medical journal
articles (12.3%), and DynaMed (2.2%).
CONCLUSIONS
PAs rely on a wide variety of resources to answer PANRE-LA questions, most
likely reflecting their clinical practice. Identifying the most effective
resources and learning strategies is essential for optimizing exam
performance and guiding the integration of evidence-based resources in
practice.
Evidence-based practice databases/resources are considered gold standards
in clinical practice. One pathway for physician assistants/associates (PAs)
recertification is the Physician Assistant National Recertifying
Exam-Longitudinal Assessment (PANRE-LA), designed to assess/promote learning
and reflect the realities of everyday clinical practice. The purpose of this
study is to explore the resources PAs use when answering PANRE-LA questions.
METHODS
We analyzed 2024 national survey data from PAs who were participating in
the PANRE-LA (8,702; 20.3% response rate). The primary questions of interest
for the current analysis were related to online/print resources PAs used to
assist with exam questions. We conducted descriptive and bivariate analyses
to examine the types of resources used, their helpfulness, and whether participants
had sufficient time to utilize them. Additionally, we examined the type of
resources used by PA demographics and practice attributes.
RESULTS
Most PAs (93.9%) used online/printed resources to assist in answering
PANRE-LA questions. Among PAs who used resources, 54.4% reported them as
moderately/very helpful, and 79.7% indicated they had sufficient time to
consult the resources they used. We found statistically significant
differences (p<0.05) by demographics and practice attributes. Younger PAs,
those who self-identified as female, and those from groups historically
underrepresented in medicine were more likely to use resources to answer the
PANRE-LA questions. Among PAs who indicated using resources, UpToDate (70.8%)
was cited as the most helpful, followed by general search engine (66.6%),
government websites (23.9%), epocrates (21.9%), PANRE-LA reference guide
(19.9%), medscape (19.0%), professional sites (14.2%), medical journal
articles (12.3%), and DynaMed (2.2%).
CONCLUSIONS
PAs rely on a wide variety of resources to answer PANRE-LA questions, most
likely reflecting their clinical practice. Identifying the most effective
resources and learning strategies is essential for optimizing exam
performance and guiding the integration of evidence-based resources in
practice.