Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania
Abstract Background Laboratory science rears a special pattern in medicine, which helps promote different biological phenomena, which will aid in the management of disease through analysis of samples and laboratory tests. Laboratory practitioners provide results that are used to make critical decisi...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12556-5 |
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| author | Catherine G. Lwenge Gladys Reuben Mahiti Heavenlight A. Paulo |
| author_facet | Catherine G. Lwenge Gladys Reuben Mahiti Heavenlight A. Paulo |
| author_sort | Catherine G. Lwenge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Laboratory science rears a special pattern in medicine, which helps promote different biological phenomena, which will aid in the management of disease through analysis of samples and laboratory tests. Laboratory practitioners provide results that are used to make critical decisions. The aim of the study was to evaluate how health laboratory practitioners understand and comply with the laboratory ethical conduct as per ISO 15189:2012. Methodology An exploratory study design that involved a qualitative approach for data collection. A total of 16 laboratory personnel who were purposively selected participated in the study. Primary data was collected through in-depth interview guided by semi-structured questions.These interviews were audio recorded, and the researcher verified the recordings for accuracy and completeness. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 14 laboratory practitioners. Additionally, non-participatory observation were conducted to complement the data. The audio recordings were transcribed into text, translated into English, and analyzed using a thematic analysis method with a deductive approach, guided by pre-determined themes. NVivo 12 software was used to facilitate the analysis. Results Despite most of the laboratory practitioners claiming to be aware of and follow laboratory ethical conduct, there were several instances of misconduct that still exist in the laboratories, e.g, mislabeling and miscommunication with clients. study has brought about valuable knowledge on ethical conduct among laboratory practitioners, the importance of abiding by ethical standards while performing laboratory activities, and the impact of these on the results. Prior research suggests that ethical compliance should be reinforced through institutional policies, leadership commitment, and accountability frameworks rather than relying solely on self-regulation. Laboratories should prioritise embedding integrity as a core institutional value through structured ethical guidelines, leadership-driven ethical culture, and continuous professional education. Conclusion There were still some incidences of information breaching that still happen to some of the laboratories. More frequent trainings were of concern along with the enhancing supportive supervision and accountability mechanisms to address ethical breaches through formalized corrective actions rather than informal reminders, integrate ethical guidelines into laboratory management systems, ensuring routine monitoring and enforcement rather than relying on self-regulation establish structured and mandatory ethical training programs with clear attendance or each laboratory staff to attend all ethical trainings with a call to the responsible Laboratory practitioners board, policies should enforce accountability by implementing appropriate penalties for practitioners who fail to comply with ethical standards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5b11fabfa33a4776b0330e2cb84499c7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-5b11fabfa33a4776b0330e2cb84499c72025-08-20T02:17:53ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-04-0125111110.1186/s12913-025-12556-5Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, TanzaniaCatherine G. Lwenge0Gladys Reuben Mahiti1Heavenlight A. Paulo2Department of Developmental Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Public Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Developmental Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Public Health and Allied SciencesDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Public Health and Allied SciencesAbstract Background Laboratory science rears a special pattern in medicine, which helps promote different biological phenomena, which will aid in the management of disease through analysis of samples and laboratory tests. Laboratory practitioners provide results that are used to make critical decisions. The aim of the study was to evaluate how health laboratory practitioners understand and comply with the laboratory ethical conduct as per ISO 15189:2012. Methodology An exploratory study design that involved a qualitative approach for data collection. A total of 16 laboratory personnel who were purposively selected participated in the study. Primary data was collected through in-depth interview guided by semi-structured questions.These interviews were audio recorded, and the researcher verified the recordings for accuracy and completeness. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 14 laboratory practitioners. Additionally, non-participatory observation were conducted to complement the data. The audio recordings were transcribed into text, translated into English, and analyzed using a thematic analysis method with a deductive approach, guided by pre-determined themes. NVivo 12 software was used to facilitate the analysis. Results Despite most of the laboratory practitioners claiming to be aware of and follow laboratory ethical conduct, there were several instances of misconduct that still exist in the laboratories, e.g, mislabeling and miscommunication with clients. study has brought about valuable knowledge on ethical conduct among laboratory practitioners, the importance of abiding by ethical standards while performing laboratory activities, and the impact of these on the results. Prior research suggests that ethical compliance should be reinforced through institutional policies, leadership commitment, and accountability frameworks rather than relying solely on self-regulation. Laboratories should prioritise embedding integrity as a core institutional value through structured ethical guidelines, leadership-driven ethical culture, and continuous professional education. Conclusion There were still some incidences of information breaching that still happen to some of the laboratories. More frequent trainings were of concern along with the enhancing supportive supervision and accountability mechanisms to address ethical breaches through formalized corrective actions rather than informal reminders, integrate ethical guidelines into laboratory management systems, ensuring routine monitoring and enforcement rather than relying on self-regulation establish structured and mandatory ethical training programs with clear attendance or each laboratory staff to attend all ethical trainings with a call to the responsible Laboratory practitioners board, policies should enforce accountability by implementing appropriate penalties for practitioners who fail to comply with ethical standards.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12556-5Health laboratoryEthical practice complianceConsentHealth laboratory practitioners |
| spellingShingle | Catherine G. Lwenge Gladys Reuben Mahiti Heavenlight A. Paulo Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania BMC Health Services Research Health laboratory Ethical practice compliance Consent Health laboratory practitioners |
| title | Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania |
| title_full | Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania |
| title_short | Evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in Kinondoni District, Tanzania |
| title_sort | evaluation of health laboratory ethical compliance among laboratory practitioners in kinondoni district tanzania |
| topic | Health laboratory Ethical practice compliance Consent Health laboratory practitioners |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12556-5 |
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