Empowering effects of further professional education for medical assistants in Switzerland: Experiences and critical aspects for further research and interventions / Empowernde Effekte beruflicher Weiterbildung für Medizinische Praxisassistentinnen und -assistenten in der Schweiz: Erfahrungen und kritische Aspekte für weiterführende Forschung und Interventionen
References
- Ahmed, A. (2020). Jahresbericht über die Aktivitäten der FMH im Bereich MPA/MPK. Schweizerische Ärztezeitung, 101(46), 1521–1523.
- Ahmed, A. (2021). Jahresbericht über die Aktivitäten der FMH im Bereich MPA/MPK. Schweizerische Ärztezeitung, 102(46), 1508–1511.
- Ansorg, A.-K., Jungo, K. T., Hilfiker, E., Felber, R., Trageser, J., Arnet, B. P., Schenk, M., & Streit, S. (2022). Quality of chronic care for patients with type 2 diabetes in practices with and without a Clinical Specialized Medical Assistant (CSMA) – a cross-sectional study from Switzerland. Swiss Medical Weekly, 152(w30180), 1–10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.11.057.PubMed - Bailey, J. (2008). First steps in qualitative data analysis: Transcribing. Family Practice, 25(2), 127–131.
https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmn003 - Biason, R. S. (2020). The effect of job satisfaction on employee retention. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, Vol. VIII(3), 405–413.
- Bodenheimer, T., & Sinsky, C. A. (2014). From Triple to Quadruple Aim: Care of the patient requires care of the provider. Annals of Family Medicine, 12(6), 573–576.
- Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. SAGE Publications.
- Byrne, D. (2022). A worked example of Braun and Clarke's approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Quality & Quantity, 56(3), 1391–1412.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01182-y - Chapman, S. A., & Blash, L. K. (2017). New roles for medical assistants in innovative primary care practices. Health Services Research, 52(1), 383–406.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12602 - Chapman, S. A., Marks, A., & Chan, M. (2010). The increasing role of medical assistants in small primary care physician practice: Key issues and policy implications. Healthforce Center at UCSF, 1–4.
- Chapman, S. A., Marks, A., & Dower, C. (2015). Positioning medical assistants for a greater role in the era of health reform. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 90(10), 1347–1352.
https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000775 - Chmiel, C., Giewer, I., Frei, A., & Rosemann, T. (2017). Four-year long-term follow-up of diabetes patients after implementation of the Chronic Care Model in primary care: A cross-sectional study. Swiss Medical Weekly, 147(w14522), Article 4344.
https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2017.14522 - Conference of Health Directors. (2019). Impulse für die Integrierte Versorgung in den Kantonen: Ein Leitfaden. GDK.
- Diener, E. (2022, July 6). Praxisangestellte arbeiten am Limit. medinside.ch.
https://www.medinside.ch/post/medizinische-praxisangestellte-arbeiten-am-limit - Dill, J., Morgan, J. C., & Chuang, E. (2021). Career ladders for medical assistants in primary care clinics. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(11), 3423–3430.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06814-5 - Dill, J., Morgan, J. C., Chuang, E., & Mingo, C. (2019). Redesigning the role of medical assistants in primary care: Challenges and strategies during implementation. Medical Care Research and Review: MCRR, 78(3), 240–250.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1077558719869143 - Elder, N. C., Jacobson, C. J., Bolon, S. K., Fixler, J., Pallerla, H., Busick, C., Gerrety, E., Kinney, D., Regan, S., & Pugnale, M. (2014). Patterns of relating between physicians and medical assistants in small family medicine offices. Annals of Family Medicine, 12(2), 150–157.
https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1581 - F4. (2020). Transkriptionssoftware | audiotranskription [Computer software].
https://www.audiotranskription.de/f4transkript/ - Federal Council. (2019, December). Die gesundheitspolitische Strategie des Bundesrats 2020–2030 (Federal Office of Public Health, Ed.).
- Federal Council. (2022a). Implementierung der eidgenössischen Berufsprüfung «Medizinische/r Praxiskoordinator/in mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis»-Bericht des Bundesrats in Erfüllung des Postulats 14.3632 Steiert vom 20. Juni 2014. [Bericht des Bundesrats in Erfüllung des Postulats 14.3632 Steiert vom 20. Juni 2014]. Federal Council.
- Federal Council. (2022b, June 3). TARDOC: Erfreuliche Fortschritte, aber noch nicht ausreichend für eine Genehmigung | Medienmitteilung vom 03.06.2022. Medienmitteilungen.
https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-89108.html - Federal Office of Public Health. (2021, November 8). Strategie gegen den Ärztemangel. Medizinische Grundversorgung.
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/berufe-im-gesundheitswesen/medizinalberufe/medizinische-grundversorgung/strategie-gegen-aerztemangel.html - Federal Office of Public Health. (2023). Tarifsystem TARMED. Ärztliche Leistungen.
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/versicherungen/krankenversicherung/krankenversicherung-leistungen-tarife/Aerztliche-Leistungen-in-der-Krankenversicherung/Tarifsystem-Tarmed.html - Federal Statistical Office. (2020, May 28). Bevölkerungsentwicklung von 2020 bis 2050: Wachstum, Alterung und Konzentration rund um die grossen Städte - Szenarien zur Bevölkerungsentwicklung der Schweiz und der Kantone 2020–2050 | Medienmitteilung vom 28.05.2020. Medienmitteilungen.
https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/kataloge-datenbanken/medienmitteilungen.assetdetail.12847542.html - Ferrante, J. M., Shaw, E. K., Bayly, J. E., Howard, J., Quest, M. N., Clark, E. C., & Pascal, C. (2018). Barriers and facilitators to expanding roles of medical assistants in patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: JABFM, 31(2), 226–235.
https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2018.02.170341 - Figueroa Gray, M., Coleman, K., Walsh-Bailey, C., Girard, S., & Lozano, P. (2021). An expanded role for the medical assistant in primary care: Evaluating a training pilot. The Permanente Journal, 25(20.091), 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/20.091 - Fragkos, K. C., Makrykosta, P., & Frangos, C. C. (2020). Structural empowerment is a strong predictor of organizational commitment in nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(4), 939–962.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14289 - Fraher, E. P., Cummings, A., & Neutze, D. (2021). The evolving role of medical assistants in primary care practice: Divergent and concordant perspectives from MAs and family physicians. Medical Care Research and Review, 78(1), 75–175.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1077558720966148 - Frei, A., Chmiel, C., Schläpfer, H., Birnbaum, B., Held, U., Steurer, J., & Rosemann, T. (2010). The Chronic CARe for diAbeTes study (CARAT): A cluster randomized controlled trial. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 9(1), Article 1.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2840-9-23 - Froschauer, U., & Lueger, M. (2020). Das qualitative Interview (2. vollständig überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage). facultas.
- Gutknecht, B., Schalch, E., & Simpson, C. (2012). Begleitbericht zum Projekt Berufsprüfung Medizinische Praxiskoordinatorin/Medizinischer Praxiskoordinator mit eidgenössischem Fachausweis vom 22. November 2012 (OdA Berufsbildung Medizinische Praxisassistentin). Odamed.
- Gysin, S., Sottas, B., Odermatt, M., & Essig, S. (2019). Advanced practice nurses' and general practitioners' first experiences with introducing the advanced practice nurse role to Swiss primary care: A qualitative study. BMC Family Practice, 20(163), 1–11.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-019-1055-z - Hostettler, S., & Kraft, E. (2022). FMH-Ärztestatistik 2021-Jeder vierte Arzt ist 60 Jahre alt oder älter. Schweizerische Ärztezeitung, 103(13), 414–419.
- Josi, R., Bianchi, M., & Brandt, S. K. (2020). Advanced practice nurses in primary care in Switzerland: An analysis of interprofessional collaboration. BMC Nursing, 19(1), 1–12.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-019-0393-4 - Kanter, R. M. (1979, July 1). Power failure in management circuits. Harvard Business Review.
https://hbr.org/1979/07/power-failure-in-management-circuits - Kanter, R. M. (1993). Men and women of the corporation (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
- Kuckartz, U. (2016). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Methoden, Praxis, Computerunterstützung (3., überarbeitete Auflage). Beltz Juventa Verlagsgruppe.
- Kuckartz, U. (2018). Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Methoden, Praxis, Computerunterstützung (4., überarbeitete Auflage). Beltz Juventa Verlagsgruppe.
- Ladden, M. D., Bodenheimer, T., Fishman, N. W., Flinter, M., Hsu, C., Parchman, M., & Wagner, E. H. (2013). The emerging primary care workforce: Preliminary observations from the primary care team: learning from effective ambulatory practices project. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 88(12), 1830–1834.
https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000027 - Lee, J. (2021). Nursing home nurses' turnover intention: A systematic review. Nursing Open, 9(1), 22–29.
https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1051 - Lobsiger, M., & Liechti, D. (2021). Berufsaustritte und Bestand von Gesundheitspersonal in der Schweiz—Eine Analyse auf Basis der Strukturerhebungen 2016–2018 (Obsan Bericht 01/2021). Schweizerisches Gesundheitsobservatorium.
https://www.obsan.admin.ch/de/publikationen/2021-berufsaustritte-und-bestand-von-gesundheitspersonal-der-schweiz - Lu, H., Zhao, Y., & While, A. (2019). Job satisfaction among hospital nurses: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 94, 21–31.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.01.011 - Mueller, A. (2022). Management Summary Schlussbericht Evaluation-Pilotprojekt KOMPASS «Kompetenzerwerb von Betroffenen einer muskuloskelettalen Erkrankung durch die medizinische Praxisassistentin (MPA) zur Steigerung des Selbstmanagements» (2019–2021). Rheumaliga Schweiz.
- Ning, S., Zhong, H., Libo, W., & Qiujie, L. (2009). The impact of nurse empowerment on job satisfaction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(12), 2642–2648.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05133.x - Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., Lewis, P. of S. P. J., Nicholls, C. M., & Ormston, R. (2014). Qualitative research practice: A guide for social science students and researchers (Vol. 2nd). SAGE.
- Sarmiento, T. P., Laschinger, H. K. S., & Iwasiw, C. (2004). Nurse educators' workplace empowerment, burnout, and job satisfaction: Testing Kanter's theory. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(2), 134–143.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2003.02973.x - Schenk, M. (2022). Die MPA und MPK sind multitalentiert und interprofessionell. Primary and Hospital Care, 22(12), 356–358.
https://doi.org/10.4414/phc-d.2022.10644 - Schenk, M., & Quinto, C. B. (2018). Neue berufliche Chancen im Kampf gegen den Nachwuchsmangel. Schweizerische Ärztezeitung, 99(9), 262–263.
https://doi.org/10.4414/saez.2018.06473 - Schermuly, C. C. (2015). Empowerment: Die Mitarbeiter stärken und entwickeln. In R. van Dick & J. Felfe (Eds.), Handbuch Mitarbeiterführung: Wirtschaftspsychologisches Praxiswissen für Fach- und Führungskräfte (pp. 1–13). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55213-7_25-1 - Sheridan, B., Chien, A. T., Peters, A. S., Rosenthal, M. B., Brooks, J. V., & Singer, S. J. (2018). Team-based primary care: The medical assistant perspective. Health Care Management Review, 43(2), 115–125.
https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000136 - Spence Laschinger, H. K., Finegan, J., Shamian, J., & Wilk, P. (2001). Impact of structural and psychological empowerment on job strain in nursing work settings: Expanding Kanter's model. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 31(5), 260–272.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00005110-200105000-00006 - Spence Laschinger, H. K., Gilbert, S., Smith, L. M., & Leslie, K. (2010). Towards a comprehensive theory of nurse/patient empowerment: Applying Kanter's empowerment theory to patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 18, 4–13.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2009.01046.x - Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. The Academy of Management Journal, 38(5), 1442–1465.
https://doi.org/10.2307/256865 - Steurer-Stey, C. (n.d.). Evidenz und Kosteneffizienz des Chronic Care Models. Universität Zürich, Institut für Hausarztmedizin.
- Suhermin, S. (2019). Applying the Kanter empowerment theory to improve organizational commitment. Proceeding Book 7th Asian Academic Society International Conference 2019, 246–252.
- Sun, X. (2016). Psychological empowerment on job performance— Mediating effect of job satisfaction. Psychology, 7, 584–590.
https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.74060 - Swiss Association of Medical Practice Professionals. (2018, March 15). Bildungsplan zur Verordnung des SBFI vom 15. März 2018 über die berufliche Grundbildung für Medizinische Praxisassistentin/Medizinischer Praxisassistent mit eidgenössischem Fähigkeitszeugnis (EFZ).
- Swiss Health Observatory (2015). Gesundheit in der Schweiz—Fokus chronische Erkrankungen. Nationaler Gesundheitsbericht 2015. Hogrefe Verlag.
- Taché, S., & Hill-Sakurai, L. (2010). Medical assistants: The invisible “glue” of primary health care practices in the United States? Journal of Health Organization and Management, 24(3), 288–305.
https://doi.org/10.1108/14777261011054626 - Travers, J. L., Schroeder, K., Norful, A. A., & Aliyu, S. (2020). The influence of empowered work environments on the psychological experiences of nursing assistants during COVID-19: qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 19(98).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-020-00489-9 - University of Lucerne & Interface Politikstudien Forschung Beratung AG. (2025). Health2040 - Shaping the Future of Outpatient Primary Healthcare in Switzerland.
https://www.health2040.ch/ - Vilendrer, S., Amano, A., Johnson, C. B., Morrison, T., & Asch, S. (2022). A qualitative assessment of medical assistant professional aspirations and their alignment with career ladders across three institutions. BMC Primary Care, 23(117), 1–11.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-022-01712-z - Wagner, J. I. J., Cummings, G., Smith, D. L., Olson, J., Anderson, L., & Warren, S. (2010). The relationship between structural empowerment and psychological empowerment for nurses: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Management, 18(4), 448–462.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01088.x - World Health Organization. (2016). Working for health and growth: Investing in the health workforce. World Health Organization.
- World Health Organization. (2019). Integrated care for older people (ICOPE)—Implementation framework: Guidance for systems and services. WHO.
- World Health Organization. (2020). Decade of healthy ageing—Baseline report. WHO.
- World Health Organization, & United Nations Children's Fund. (2020). Operational framework for primary health care: Transforming vision into action. WHO.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijhp-2026-0001 | Journal eISSN: 2296-990X
Language: English, German
Page range: 1 - 13
Submitted on: Jan 7, 2026
Accepted on: Mar 30, 2026
Published on: May 1, 2026
Published by: ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Daniela Crescenzi, Sophie Karoline Brandt, Stefan Essig, Andreas Balthasar, published by ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.
