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Background <p>Medical assistants (German: MFA) play a&#xa0;central role in outpatient care. Despite new opportunities for further training, there is a&#xa0;growing shortage of skilled staff. While studies often focus on individual factors such as payment, there are few exploratory surveys in Germany on the holistic perspective of MFAs on their professional group.</p> Objectives <p>How do MFAs from the Ostwestfalen–Lippe region evaluate the current situation of their profession and how do they view the future?</p> Materials and methods <p>Five semi-structured, guideline-based focus group interviews were conducted with 17&#xa0;MFAs from Ostwestfalen–Lippe. The recordings were transcribed and anonymized. The transcripts were analyzed independently by two team-members in the MAXQDA analysis software using Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. The results were summarized and a&#xa0;code-based category system was created.</p> Results <p>The following 9&#xa0;main categories were identified inductively: (1)&#xa0;the self-image of MFAs, (2)&#xa0;MFAs in the healthcare system, (3)&#xa0;professional situation, (4)&#xa0;social and political recognition of the MFA profession, (5)&#xa0;changes, (6)&#xa0;resources, (7)&#xa0;the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences, (8)&#xa0;special features in general medical practices, and (9)&#xa0;personal factors.</p> Conclusion <p>Social factors such as recognition and participation are both a&#xa0;resource and a&#xa0;source of challenges, and play a&#xa0;central role alongside formal conditions such as working hours and remuneration. An emerging shift in identity towards greater autonomy and professionalization should be considered in training and working models as well as in the inclusion of employees in change processes.</p>

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Die Perspektive von medizinischen Fachangestellten auf ihre Berufsgruppe – eine qualitativ-explorative Studie

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月12日

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  • Lara Schürmann,
  • Christiane Muth,
  • Tim Peters

摘要

Background

Medical assistants (German: MFA) play a central role in outpatient care. Despite new opportunities for further training, there is a growing shortage of skilled staff. While studies often focus on individual factors such as payment, there are few exploratory surveys in Germany on the holistic perspective of MFAs on their professional group.

Objectives

How do MFAs from the Ostwestfalen–Lippe region evaluate the current situation of their profession and how do they view the future?

Materials and methods

Five semi-structured, guideline-based focus group interviews were conducted with 17 MFAs from Ostwestfalen–Lippe. The recordings were transcribed and anonymized. The transcripts were analyzed independently by two team-members in the MAXQDA analysis software using Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. The results were summarized and a code-based category system was created.

Results

The following 9 main categories were identified inductively: (1) the self-image of MFAs, (2) MFAs in the healthcare system, (3) professional situation, (4) social and political recognition of the MFA profession, (5) changes, (6) resources, (7) the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its consequences, (8) special features in general medical practices, and (9) personal factors.

Conclusion

Social factors such as recognition and participation are both a resource and a source of challenges, and play a central role alongside formal conditions such as working hours and remuneration. An emerging shift in identity towards greater autonomy and professionalization should be considered in training and working models as well as in the inclusion of employees in change processes.