Physician assistant vocational satisfaction.

Physician assistants (PAs) are known to be highly satisfied with their vocational choices, but the reasons for this high degree of satisfaction are not known. The author mailed a survey to 2,323 PAs whose names were randomly chosen from the mailing list of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) to examine the factors that PAs feel contribute to vocational satisfaction. The survey response rate was 50%. PAs were found to be highly satisfied with their careers, specialty choices, and jobs. From qualitative data, 21 factors for vocational satisfaction and 29 factors for dissatisfaction were identified. The identified variables could be used to guide PA professional policy development and aid PA employers in making organizational and management decisions.