[Implementation of the new Federal Medical Licensing Regulations for doctors in the interdisciplinary subject "Rehabilitation, physical medicine, naturopathic treatment" by the German medical faculties].

The introduction of the new interdisciplinary subject "Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine, Naturopathic Treatment" based on the 9th revision of the Federal Medical Licensing Regulations (Approbationsordnung fur Arzte) implies new opportunities and challenges for teaching. In order to investigate the transfer of the new subject to teaching practise, a written questionnaire was sent to all German medical faculties. With regard to the implementation of new teaching structures and procedures in the subject, a range of different indicators was examined. 50 % of the medical faculties have been planning for comprehensive teaching sessions as compared to distribution over the whole semester. Lectures predominate with an average of more than half of the teaching time available for the subject. For examination purposes written tests are used in 83 %, compared to only 17 % Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. Considering the diversity among the medical faculties, there is room for improvement in many universities concerning more patient- and practice-oriented medical training as intended by the Federal Medical Licensing Regulations. However, in spite of increased demands, supplementary funds for additional equipment or manpower are rarely provided for. In the future, enhanced allocation of resources based on performance-related evaluation within the medical faculties and teaching competition between universities may provide significant stimuli for advances in medical training also in the new interdisciplinary subject. Further improvement of general teaching conditions is necessary in order to utilize all the opportunities offered by the new Federal Medical Regulations.