Title: Assessment of Laboratory Practitioner’s Competency in Kenya
Author: Wachuka Gathigia Njoroge
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i8.51
Abstract
Introduction: There has been increasing interest to improve the quality of laboratory services world- wide including in many resource poor countries. In tandem with this need, the Kenya government recognizes the delivery of quality laboratory services as an integral part of the national health care strategy. The quality of the laboratory services is important in achieving the national goal of improved health care. Service quality is influenced by the competence of the laboratory service providers who are the practitioners as well as the availability of the recommended working conditions as set by the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board. The objective of this study was to assess laboratory practitioner’s competence in Kenya by evaluating their levels of education and training.
Methodology: As a representation of each of the regions in Kenya the study areas were situated in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri and Kisumu counties. Purposeful sampling was used to select the laboratories while as random sampling was used for the laboratory practitioners. The data was analysed using Excel spreadsheets and SPSS version 19.
Results: All the laboratories sampled were manned by staff with a basic minimum of ordinary level, Kenyan form four level of education. Very few practitioners were university graduates. Faith based laboratories had the highest rating in competency of practitioners (p < 0.027, p < 0.05, α = 0.05).
Conclusion: Findings of this research were that the laboratory practitioners were competent with the minimum qualifications recommended by the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board.
Keywords: Competency, Laboratory Practitioners
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