Addiction Specialists in the Czech Republic: What is their Place on the Job Market? A Survey among Graduates in Addictology
Abstract
Research on the employability of university graduates provides key feedback for universities, applicants, students, and decision makers. The topic is even more important at a time when the first international curricula (UPC/UTC) and professional platforms are being developed.
The profession of an addiction specialist in the Czech Republic is a young one and it is still seeking to establish its position within the system of services for people with substance use disorders. Therefore, there is only limited data on addictologists' success in finding a job.
AIMS: To identify the rate and characteristics of the employability of addictologists on the labour market, whether addictology graduates work in the field and under what conditions, and, if not, what prevents them from doing so. METHODS: The study population comprised the graduates of the academic programmes in addictology from 2005 to 2016.
Data was collected using an online questionnaire survey, with a 59% response rate, and analysed using MS Excel and IBM SPSS 22. RESULTS: 58% of the respondents work in the field of addictology, mostly in low threshold and outpatient services. 62% of them had already worked during their studies. 53% work in Prague, two-thirds of them on a full-time basis.
One-third has another employment too. One half keeps the position of addictologists, more men than women.
With statistical significance, men are more likely to work in the field. 69 persons do not work in the field of addictology, with 39 never having looked for such a job. The reasons for working in other fields included low salaries, the offer of a different job, and a lack of work opportunities.
Those working in addictology tended to rate both the quality of the study programme and the demand for the profession in more positive terms and they are also significantly more likely to be members of the Czech Association of Addictologists. CONCLUSION: The results are of great value and will be used for adjusting the study programmes to meet the requirements of practice and for the internationalization process involving the implementation of the UPC and UTC curricula.