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Reconfiguration of Allied Health Education in Portugal: Perspectives from Professionals, Professors and Researchers

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: In 2013, Portugal implemented a major restructuring of Allied Health (AH) education by merging multiple separate first-cycle degree programmes into a smaller number of broader qualifications. The reform was designed to streamline curricula, increase efficiency, boost graduate employability, and align national qualifications with international standards. This study examines how Portuguese AH professionals, academics, and researchers perceive these reforms ten years on. A cross-sectional web-based survey collected 495 responses from AH stakeholders. Perceptions were quantified with a validated 21-item scale organised into three domains through exploratory factor analysis: (A) curricular change and structural effects; (B) educational quality and international harmonization; and (C) Professional Consequences of the Mergers. Differences between groups were examined by Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. There were notable differences by age, educational background, experience, and academic qualifications. Younger practitioners and post-merger graduates indicated more favourable perceptions of the reforms (Domains A and B), whereas older, pre-merger-trained, and doctoral-level respondents were more critical, especially regarding autonomy and specialization (Domain C). Views on the reform are influenced by generational, experiential, and academic factors. Individualized communication and policy-focused approaches are needed to promote stakeholder engagement and maintain the legitimacy of subsequent health education reforms in Portugal.
DOI: 10.3390/educsci15101380
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W4415239111
FWCI:
Cites: 21
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