10 years of Addictology - complex university education for addiction specialization in the Czech Republic
Abstract
Conclusion: University study programme ""Addictology"" in all education levels is running for 10 years at the Department of Addictology of the 1st Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague in the Czech Republic. Graduates get the healtcare qualification and specialization for working in the services for alcohol and drug users.
Background: In 90's in the Czech Republic there was no specialized services for drug users. Professionals from similar fields realised the need for such services yet found they don't have proper education in this field.
There was an idea for creating a new university study programme established. In 2005 the first grade of students started their studies.
Since the study programme named ""Addictology"" is running at bachelor, master and Ph.D. level, all in present and distant forms. Important Czech professionals became teachers of the specific addictological subjects.
The study is based on two main principles: transdisciplinarity and bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model. Up to this date there are 198 graduates in bachelor and 50 in master level.
Research question: Evaluation of 10 years of functioning of the study programme Addictology in the Czech Republic. Limits and challenges.
Methods: Documents analysis, structured interviews with teachers, students and graduates. Questionnaire study on graduates' employability.
Literature review. Descriptive statistics.
Results: In 2014 the document ""The system of Education in Addictology for the period 2014-2020: a policy document has been created and now it's implemented in study programme appearance. The study programme forms a complex education system with healthcare qualification for individual work without a supervision in bachelor degree and following education at master's and Ph.D. levels.
Every year there is an evaluation phase and innovations are made.