Needs assessment of a longitudinal training course in vocational training within the Verbundweiterbildung(plus)

Background: In Germany content-related vocational training mostly is the responsibility of the trainees themselves. The aim of this needs assessment is to explore the requirements of a longitudinal training course in vocational training. Methods: A combined quantitative-qualitative needs assessment was chosen. We used data of a continuous record keeping system in primary care to assess the occupational field, and the needs of vocational trainees were explored in a qualitative survey. Results: Data of more than 120,000 consulting problems in primary care were attributed to different medical expertises by frequency (orthopaedics 22.1%; internal medicine 17.2%; dermatology 12.2%; ear, nose, and throat medicine 11.9%). They revealed a high concordance between the needs derived from the consulting problems and the vocational trainees' needs identified in the qualitative survey (421 text units in the categories: medical expertise, competencies and skills and reflection on one's own performance). Conclusion: The results of this needs assessment demonstrate the importance of vocational trainees' needs and the findings of health services research for improvement of content-related vocational training. Furthermore, the results form the basis for longitudinal training courses in vocational training, as shown in the approach of the training course within the training programme Verbundweiterbildung(plus).