Hildegard Theobald
Entwicklung des Qualifikationsbedarfs im Gesundheitssektor: Professionalisierungsprozesse in der Physiotherapie und Dentalhygiene im europäischen Vergleich

At present new demands in health care systems like patient-orientation, integration of different health care sectors or evidence-based medicine question the organisation and forms of cooperation in different areas in the health care sector in Germany. The development of new forms of organisation and cooperation as well as working-styles requires further a re-definition of existing curricula including qualification levels. The development reflects tendencies, which reveal similarities to trends in other European countries.
In this paper with the examples of the professional groups "Dentalhygienist" and "Physiotherapist" the changes regarding re-definition of qualifications and practice are investigated in a European comparative perspective. The European perspective allows to show trends in the development specific to the German occupational system, future prospects and the influence of the process of European integration. In the analysis the changes are viewed as an essential part of the efforts for a professionalisation of the work activity and as such includes the perspectives of important actors in this field, like the professional bodies, associations and the schools.
The two selected professional groups act as examples for two different developments. Physiotherapy is in Germany a well established field of activity. But in contrast to the compared countries it could not yet reach professional status as defined by a scientific body of knowledge, corresponding curricula and an autonomous practice. The changing requirements in the health sector are discussed by the German actors themselves in a European perspective and they could manage to develop the activity by establishing a bachelor degree. In the area of dental hygiene in Germany the increasing requirements result in the institutionalisation of further training programs, while in the compared countries the debate is about the establishing of university degrees. Despite the differences between the countries the institutionalisation of further training programs in Germany is judged as a starting point for a further professionalisation supported by the European integration.