1. your doctorate is complete - what does that mean for you personally?
Another chapter of my academic qualification has been completed, even if it was a very demanding time alongside a full-time job and as a father of two small children.
2 What is your dissertation about?
Demographic change has far-reaching consequences for healthcare. Chronic illnesses and the amount of therapeutic and nursing services required increase with age. In addition, the shortage of skilled labour in the healthcare professions is exacerbating the care situation. The increased use of telemedicine is seen as a way of utilising existing resources effectively and maintaining or improving the quality of care. The use of teletherapy and telecare is being implemented without corresponding framework recommendations and guidelines for many professional groups.
3. what was a highlight or special experience in connection with your doctorate?
A nice realisation was that, as part of the interdisciplinary research, a number of connecting elements in the area of communication and interaction in the fields of occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and nursing became clear, especially from the patient's perspective.
Another highlight was my passive participation in the World Occupational Therapy Congress 2022 in Paris, where global perspectives on increasingly digital occupational therapy became clear. Active participation in the European Congress for Occupational Therapy in Krakow 2024 was also an absolute highlight, where I was able to present the first interim results of my doctorate.
4. what plans do you have for your professional future?
I will now devote more time to teaching and research activities. I am particularly keen to promote the academisation of occupational therapy, as this must lead to an inevitable professionalisation of occupational therapy. The therapeutic health professions are currently undergoing a strong dynamic, for example with the blank prescription, the introduction of the telematics infrastructure in the therapy professions and the simultaneous digitalisation of therapy content. This must be accompanied by profession-specific research and teaching.
5. what tips can you give future doctoral candidates?
Everything has an end - including the doctorate. And show solidarity with like-minded people, because a problem shared is a problem halved.
6. why did you choose OTH Regensburg for your doctorate?
The OTH had offered this in the advertisement for the academic position, albeit free of charge.
LINKS
https://epub.uni-regensburg.de/view/people/Lichtenauer=3ANorbert=3A=3A.html
