Adaptation, psychometric properties and feasibility of the Professionalism Scale Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Pre- and postgraduate education is meant to be competency-based. Over the last two decades various competency frameworks have been published. An important aspect of competency is professionalism, being discussed widely in the literature while a clear-cut definition is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to translate the Nijmegen Professionalism Scale into the German language, to adapt the scale to the German setting and to examine the psychometric properties, test-retest reliability and feasibility of the culturally adapted instrument designed to assess professionalism in general practice, in addition to the validity of the concept of professionalism and to testify the transfer across linguistic, cultural and societal differences. METHOD: After translating the Nijmegen Professional Scale into German, we conducted its cultural adaptation, the German Professionalism Scale (Pro-D). Its psychometric properties were assessed using Cronbach's α, descriptive statistics, and test-retest reliability. The validation of the construct was analysed by confirmatory factor analysis. Feasibility was confirmed in interviews with GP trainees and their trainers. RESULTS: A total of 133 trainees completed the Pro-D. The Pro-D showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α 0.93) and good test-retest reliability (Spearman's rank correlation and Wilcoxon's matched-pairs test) for the different domains. Confirmatory factor analysis was unable to establish construct validity. Change in sensitivity of the instrument was good. Statements of interviews confirmed the feasibility of the new instrument. CONCLUSIONS: We found good psychometric properties for the Pro-D. This might indicate transferability of the concept across linguistic, cultural and societal differences although the concept of professionalism was not replicated in a confirmatory factor analysis.

[Professionalism in general practice in Germany - a qualitative approximation]. / Professionalität in der Allgemeinmedizin in Deutschland - eine qualitative Studie zur Annäherung an das Kompetenzfeld.

BACKGROUND: Pre- and postgraduate education is meant to be competency-based. Over the last two decades various competency frameworks have been published. One competency is professionalism, a definition of which has not yet been developed but is being discussed in the literature. The aim of this qualitative study is an approximation to professionalism among German general practitioners and general practitioner trainees. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted by interviewing seven pairs of GPs and their trainees. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. The analysis was performed according to Mayring supported by the software Atlas.ti. RESULTS: Four categories of professionalism emerged: responsibility towards patients, responsibility towards other professionals, responsibility towards the society and responsibility towards oneself. Professionalism was perceived as important for general practice in Germany. In addition, barriers of professional behaviour have been identified. CONCLUSION: The perception of professionalism among German GPs and GP trainees is in accordance with the frameworks of professionalism found in the literature. These results underline the need for conceptualising professionalism among general practice trainees in Germany.