Approving job profiles for curriculum profiles in health care programs : a study on process and product quality

A study evaluated the approach used for validation of job profiles for curriculum development in three health care programs in the Netherlands: dietetics, podotherapy, and activity therapy. It also evaluated the quality of these job profiles and the relation between process and product quality. The validation approach used was a practical application of a small group strategy that consisted of three parts: information, deliberation, and consensus. Data were used from three cases. In these cases, 12, 10, and 11 persons with health care institutions or educational institutions were present. Six questionnaires collected data on the following: (1) personal characteristics, motives and expectations, the information document, and the draft job profile; (2) opinions on issues and expected consensus; (3) communication rules; (4) the decision-making process; (5) consensus on components of and opinions on the quality of the validated job profile; and (6) evaluation of the validation approach. Findings indicated that the validation approach was satisfying. Although there was a considerable amount of prior agreement with the draft job profile components, the validation sessions created an even greater agreement with the final job profile components. The validation approach was also satisfying with regard to product quality. The process quality was scored less positively. The study showed that process and product quality were significantly related.