Idaho State University

PA Program Research Projects

Title:	Going the distance with instructional technology: A ten-year study of physician assistant student performance and satisfaction with distance education
Sponsoring Organizations:	Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Idaho State University
Dates:	Data collection began in 2000 and will continue until Jan., 2010.
Principle Investigator:	Bernadette Howlett, MS, PhD Assistant Professor of Research, Idaho State University, Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Co-PI's	Jared Papa, MS, PA-C, Clinical Instructor, Department of Physician Assistant Studies Cathryn Erickson, Health and Nutrition Sciences Bachelor's student, Physician Assistant Studies Student Research Assistant.
Type:	10-Year Longitudinal Pre/Post Multi-intervention Study
Funding:	Departmental Research Support
Human Subjects:	This is an exempted study due to the anonymity of subjects and the nature of the research as reflecting data collected in the course of normal teaching activities.
Abstract:	Students who select ISU attend a program that continues to successfully pioneer new technologies while providing rigorous preparation for the profession. Throughout many changes and adoptions of new technologies our data have shown that ISU’s students are satisfied with their learning experiences and achieve the program’s learning objectives. This 10-year study examines the effectiveness of online learning and video conferencing for ISU physician assistant students (n = 274). The researchers hypothesize that student performance and satisfaction will not differ between groups at different campuses nor between groups pre- and post- adoption. For this study the program will analyze course evaluation data, PACKRAT scores, and PANCE scores. Participants in this study are students who started the ISU PA program from 2000 - 2009. Two sets of comparisons will be made: 1) pre-distance student data versus post-distance student data; and 2) face-to-face student data versus remote (synchronous video conference) student data. Data analysis will be performed in Fall 2009 - Spring of 2010. Publication of results is anticipated in Spring or Summer of 2010.
Contact Information:	Bernadette Howlett Research Assistant Professor howlbern@isu.edu 208-282-3841	Cathryn Erickson Student Research Assistant martcath@isu.edu 208-282-3841