Background: Medical and dental assistants work in direct contact with patients as part of practice organization and treatment assistance and are usually the first point of contact in the practice for questions and needs. However, despite a strong motivation to start training, apprenticeships in this field are terminated prematurely more often than average. Research question: What are the challenges for trainees and which personal attributes of aspiring healthcare professionals contribute to successful training in view of the professional requirements? Methods: Research findings are analyzed, considering applicant characteristics, career choice motives, specific professional requirements, and stress factors. Possible relationships between individual influencing factors are derived. The aim is to develop an understanding of the causes of training discontinuations among medical and dental assistants and to identify possible research gaps. Results: From the outset of their training, young people assume responsibility here and are highly exposed to cognitive, physical, and psychosocial stresses as well as potential intraorganizational conflicts. Individual resources and dispositions of trainees can, in many cases, only partially compensate for this challenging situation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the trainees’ strong communication and interpersonal skills in particular play a protective role in helping trainees cope with the job-specific stresses of working in outpatient healthcare settings. © The Author(s) 2025.
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