# Navigating unique challenges: librarian perceptions in supporting physician associate (assistant) programs

## TL;DR

This study explores the challenges librarians face in supporting physician assistant programs and highlights strategies they use to overcome them.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into librarian roles and challenges in PA education through mixed-methods research.

## Key findings

- Most library-led instruction for PA programs focuses on search skills and evidence-based practice.
- Relationship building and managing steep learning curves are key challenges for librarians in PA education.
- Professional development is needed to address knowledge gaps and workload challenges.

## Abstract

This study examines the experiences of librarians who support physician
assistant/associate (PA) programs, describing the unique challenges of these programs
and outlining strategies that librarians adopt to engage these programs.

This mixed-methods study includes two phases: (1) a quantitative survey developed and
distributed to library personnel in institutions with established or developing PA
programs in the US and Canada, and (2) semi-structured interviews with fifteen selected
survey respondents, focusing on their experiences and perceptions related to PA
education support. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Seventy-five survey responses were collected. Key findings from the survey include:
most respondents were from universities with health sciences programs, with nursing and
physical therapy being the most common additional programs. Most library-led instruction
occurred during the didactic phase and focused on search skills and evidence-based
practice. PubMed and UpToDate were the most library-promoted resources. Two thematic
elements discovered through the semi-structured interviews were “relationship
building as paramount” and “impact of the learning curve on librarian
workload.”

Librarians who support PA educational programs face challenges related to relationship
building, financial resources, workload, and steep learning curves. The findings
underscore the need for targeted professional development programs to equip librarians
with the necessary knowledge and skills.