Table 2 Ranking of CPD training topics by medical laboratory professionals, n = 316
From: Self-reported continuing professional development needs of medical laboratory professionals in Ghana
Training needs | Ranking | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Most important n (%) | Moderate importance n (%) | Less important n (%) | No response n (%) | |
Quality management systems | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Quality system essentials for medical laboratory | 274 (86.7) | 31 (9.8) | 5 (1.6) | 6 (1.9) |
 Implementing a quality management system | 277 (87.7) | 31 (9.8) | 4 (1.3) | 4 (1.3) |
 Techniques to identify and control sources of errors in laboratory procedures | 281 (88.9) | 29 (9.2) | 2 (0.6) | 4 (1.3) |
 Management of non-conformances in laboratory services | 196 (62.0) | 104 (32.9) | 11 (3.5) | 5 (1.6) |
 Use of external quality assessment to improve testing procedures | 247 (78.2) | 53 (16.8) | 8 (2.5) | 8 (2.5) |
 Internal quality control and Westgard rule | 253 (80.1) | 51 (16.1) | 4 (1.3) | 8 (2.5) |
 Laboratory accreditation: principles and processes | 237 (75.0) | 68 (21.5) | 8 (2.5) | 3 (0.9) |
 Clinical laboratory safety | 272 (86.1) | 37 (11.7) | 4 (1.3) | 3 (0.9) |
Technical competence | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Evidence-based laboratory medicine | 273 (86.4) | 34 (10.8) | 2 (0.6) | 7 (2.2) |
 Evaluation and selection of analytical methods and equipment | 259 (82.0) | 48 (15.2) | 1 (0.3) | 8 (2.5) |
 Definition, establishment, and use of reference ranges | 245 (77.5) | 61 (19.3) | 5 (1.6) | 5 (1.6) |
 Health informatics | 193 (61.1) | 103 (32.6) | 11 (3.5) | 9 (2.8) |
 Point-of-care testing | 163 (51.6) | 118 (37.3) | 28 (8.9) | 7 (2.2) |
 Statistics in laboratory medicine | 221 (69.9) | 81 (25.6) | 5 (1.6) | 9 (2.8) |
 Specimen management | 254 (80.4) | 49 (15.5) | 3 (0.9) | 10 (3.2) |
 Molecular diagnostic methods and genetics | 235 (74.4) | 66 (20.9) | 6 (1.9) | 9 (2.8) |
 Laboratory and disease surveillance | 235 (74.4) | 64 (20.3) | 6 (1.9) | 11 (3.5) |
 Equipment maintenance | 259 (82.0) | 42 (13.3) | 6 (1.9) | 9 (2.8) |
Laboratory management, leadership, and coaching | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Customer care | 259 (82.0) | 44 (13.9) | 4 (1.3) | 9 (2.8) |
 Competence assessment | 264 (83.5) | 41 (13.0) | 3 (0.9) | 8 (2.5) |
 Ethics and professionalism | 279 (88.3) | 32 (10.1) | 1 (0.3) | 4 (1.3) |
 Supervision and delegation | 239 (75.6) | 65 (20.6) | 3 (0.9) | 9 (2.8) |
 Preceptorship and mentorship | 206 (65.2) | 92 (29.1) | 9 (2.8) | 9 (2.8) |
 Data management, report writing, and presentation skills | 255 (80.7) | 49 (15.5) | 6 (1.9) | 6 (1.9) |
 Basic cost accounting for clinical laboratory services | 179 (56.6) | 120 (38) | 8 (2.5) | 9 (2.8) |
 Management of resources and supplies | 227 (71.8) | 75 (23.7) | 6 (1.9) | 8 (2.5) |
 Monitoring and evaluation | 230 (72.8) | 72 (22.8) | 3 (0.9) | 11 (3.5) |
 Team building | 248 (78.5) | 48 (15.2) | 8 (2.5) | 12 (3.8) |
 Strategic planning | 229 (72.5) | 67 (21.2) | 5 (1.6) | 15 (4.7) |
 Rational selection of tests | 215 (68.0) | 86 (27.2) | 4 (1.3) | 11 (3.5) |
 Medical tariffs (billing and coding) | 173 (54.7) | 119 (37.7) | 17 (5.4) | 7 (2.2) |
 Cost of laboratory tests and procedures | 202 (63.9) | 92 (29.1) | 13 (4.1) | 9 (2.8) |
 Career prospects | 247 (78.2) | 54 (17.1) | 6 (1.9 | 9 (2.8) |
Pathophysiology, data interpretation, and research | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Case studies in clinical microbiology | 265 (83.3) | 38 (12) | 4 (1.3) | 9 (2.8) |
 Case studies in clinical chemistry | 276 (87.3) | 31 (9.8) | 1 (0.3) | 8 (2.5) |
 Case studies in hematology | 275 (87.0) | 30 (9.5) | 1 (0.3) | 10 (3.2) |
 Case studies in medical parasitology | 260 (82.3) | 45 (14.2) | 1 (0.3) | 10 (3.2) |
 Case studies in blood transfusion science | 266 (84.2) | 39 (12.3) | 0 (0.0) | 11 (3.5) |
 Case studies in cytology and histology | 228 (72.2) | 67 (21.2) | 12 (3.8) | 9 (2.8) |
 Case studies in immunology | 261 (82.6) | 39 (12.3) | 6 (1.9) | 10 (3.2) |
 Molecular and immunodiagnostic techniques | 245 (77.5) | 52 (16.5) | 7 (2.2) | 12 (3.8) |
 Semen analysis | 250 (79.1) | 49 (15.5) | 7 (2.2) | 10 (3.2) |
 Research proposal development and operational research | 247 (78.2) | 53 (16.8) | 6 (1.9) | 10 (3.2) |
 Grant proposal writing | 222 (70.3) | 73 (23.1) | 10 (3.2) | 11 (3.5) |
 Manuscript preparation | 212 (67.1) | 83 (26.3) | 9 (2.8) | 12 (3.8) |
 Basic computer skills | 210 (66.5) | 83 (26.3) | 12 (3.8) | 11 (3.5) |
 Use of statistical and programming tools | 235 (74.4) | 64 (20.3) | 8 (2.5) | 9 (2.8) |