Career Regret Among Physician Assistants: A Comparative Survey of Primary and Specialty Care Careers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine possible factors (eg type of practice) affecting career regret among physician assistants (PAs). This information may assist practicing and aspiring physician assistants when selecting or changing their career path. Methods: A survey was emailed to 5,000 primary and specialty care physician assistants. Items indicating career regret were compared between primary and specialty care groups. Results: Eight hundred and thirty-four (16.7%) completed surveys were received. Career regret is similar between primary and specialty care physician assistants, with low reports from both groups. No statistical significance was found between primary care and specialty care groups with regard to career regret or student loan debt. The primary care group noted a less sustainable work/life balance and higher perceived burnout. Specialty care physician assistants reported higher annual gross income. Regret and disappointment correlated highly with burnout. Conclusions: Physician assistants and prospective physician assistants should carefully consider their career path as regret and disappointment correlated highly with burnout.