Naslov
15 years of Croatian Academy for Developmental Habilitation in the Process of Lifelong Learning of Physiotherapists in Croatia

Autori
Milaščević, Darko ; Klaić, Irena ; Philipps, Silvija ; Mejaški-Bošnjak, Vlatka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Izvornik
Abstracts of 3rd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education - Advancing the Professional Profile / - Beč, 2012, 14-15

Skup
3rd European Congress on Physiotherapy Education od the European Region, WCPT, Advancing the Professional Profile

Mjesto i datum
Beč, Austrija, 08.11.2012. - 09.11.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
lifelong learning; physiotherapy; Croatia

Sažetak
Purpose: Presenting the process of continuing professional development for physiotherapists in the field of developmental habilitation in Croatia through activities of Croatian Academy for Developmental Habilitation. The main activities of Academy focus on education of professionals in pediatric rehabilitation, informing and educating parents, preschool and school teachers in the implementation of therapeutic methods in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, publications on pediatric rehabilitation for professionals and parents. The specific goals are promotion of interdisciplinary approach in pediatric rehabilitation, implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic methods used in early childhood which are still lacking in Croatia, harmonization of pediatric rehabilitation in whole Croatia. Relevance: At the time the Academy was founded formal higher education of physiotherapists in Croatia was at the level of two year program (120 ECTS). Activities of the Academy went parallel with the improvements to the formal education in Croatia. Academy organized interdisciplinary courses as a part of lifelong learning process for physiotherapists, along with doctors and other members of habilitation team, acquiring practical skills necessary for clinical practice, as well as mentoring students in clinical part of their formal education. 15 years later, education system for physiotherapists in Croatia offers bachelor and master degree program in physiotherapy formally started as a part of Bologna process in 2005 (3 year bachelor + 2 year master degree study). All the courses organized by the Academy are recognized by Croatian Council of Physiotherapists and valued in licensing for physiotherapists. Students who participated in these courses were also specially credited in the applying procedure for Master degree program in physiotherapy, and later in realization of specific program contents. Descriptions: Croatian Academy for Developmental Habilitation was founded in 1997 at Children’s Hospital Zagreb . 400 members of the Academy are interdisciplinary experts, doctors and therapists with different specialties coming from all the areas of Croatia, working in the field of developmental disabilities. Courses organized with the goal of implementing new diagnostic and treatment methods were lead by international experts in their field. Some of those courses are Munich functional developmental diagnostics 1-3 year, Early communication and interaction, Sensory integration by J. Ayres, Vojta Therapy Course, Basic and Advanced NDT Bobath Courses, as well as Gross Motor Function Measure, MACS, PEDI and other assessment methods courses. The Academy actively collaborates with European Academy for Childhood Disability, and the result of this collaboration was 20th Conference of European Academy for Childhood Disability organized in Zagreb, Croatia in 2008. CONCLUSION: Academy for developmental habilitation has invaluably contributed to development of continuous professional development of physiotherapists in Croatia, but also it contributed to promotion of formal education of physiotherapists at entry undergraduate and graduate level by training teachers, lecturers and assistants who work in the specific area of physiotherapy in pediatrics. This contribution is evident in general development of physiotherapy profession in Croatia, as well as in recognition of professional roll of physiotherapists within the habilitation teams.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA