Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study
Abstract Background Medical laboratory professionals play vital roles in healthcare services. The increasing demand for quality and timely laboratory services and emerging technologies highlights the crucial need for continuing professional development (CPD). Despite this, there is limited informati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07633-6 |
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| author | Adugna Negussie Abay Sisay Agumas Shibabaw Edosa Kebede Firehiwot Tesfaye Gizachew Kedida Nadew Deneke Takele Teklu Waqtola Cheneke |
| author_facet | Adugna Negussie Abay Sisay Agumas Shibabaw Edosa Kebede Firehiwot Tesfaye Gizachew Kedida Nadew Deneke Takele Teklu Waqtola Cheneke |
| author_sort | Adugna Negussie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Medical laboratory professionals play vital roles in healthcare services. The increasing demand for quality and timely laboratory services and emerging technologies highlights the crucial need for continuing professional development (CPD). Despite this, there is limited information available regarding CPD programs within Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to assess the perceptions, attitudes, and challenges faced by medical laboratory professionals concerning CPD in Ethiopian context. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 228 medical laboratory professionals was conducted in Ethiopia from July to October 2023. An online structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding ongoing professional development. Representatives from twenty institutions were approached through in-depth interviews to supplement the quantitative data. SPSS version 28 was used for the data analysis. Results The average age of the study participants was 32.6 ± 6.4 (SD) years, the majority were men (88.6%), and 44.3% had worked for more than ten years. Of the participants, 51% never had CPD training. Nearly three-fourths of the participants perceived CPD as essential to their professional careers. About 45.2% of the study participants perceived that the purpose of the CPD course is to renew their license and gain knowledge and skills not covered in basic training. While most participants had good attitudes toward CPD, about 10% stated that CPD is less important for their career growth. Most survey respondents did not support the decentralized CPD method. Notable financial difficulties, a lack of staff, unsupportive employers, regulatory bodies’ less striction, and restricted access to training close to their place of employment were among the major challenges identified for the CPD program. Conclusion This study demonstrated that participants’ attitudes and perceptions of the CPD program were believed to be essential for medical laboratory professional career development. The study highlighted the importance of a centrally administered CPD program facilitated by professional associations and regulatory entities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f52a816f4b9f4b608f08df5d0cd24533 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-f52a816f4b9f4b608f08df5d0cd245332025-08-20T03:43:11ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-07-0125111110.1186/s12909-025-07633-6Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods studyAdugna Negussie0Abay Sisay1Agumas Shibabaw2Edosa Kebede3Firehiwot Tesfaye4Gizachew Kedida5Nadew Deneke6Takele Teklu7Waqtola Cheneke8Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Arsi UniversityDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo UniversityDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Ambo UniversityDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa UniversityEthiopian Medical Laboratory AssociationEthiopian Medical Laboratory AssociationSchool of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo UniversitySchool of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science, Institute of Health, Jimma UniversityAbstract Background Medical laboratory professionals play vital roles in healthcare services. The increasing demand for quality and timely laboratory services and emerging technologies highlights the crucial need for continuing professional development (CPD). Despite this, there is limited information available regarding CPD programs within Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to assess the perceptions, attitudes, and challenges faced by medical laboratory professionals concerning CPD in Ethiopian context. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 228 medical laboratory professionals was conducted in Ethiopia from July to October 2023. An online structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding ongoing professional development. Representatives from twenty institutions were approached through in-depth interviews to supplement the quantitative data. SPSS version 28 was used for the data analysis. Results The average age of the study participants was 32.6 ± 6.4 (SD) years, the majority were men (88.6%), and 44.3% had worked for more than ten years. Of the participants, 51% never had CPD training. Nearly three-fourths of the participants perceived CPD as essential to their professional careers. About 45.2% of the study participants perceived that the purpose of the CPD course is to renew their license and gain knowledge and skills not covered in basic training. While most participants had good attitudes toward CPD, about 10% stated that CPD is less important for their career growth. Most survey respondents did not support the decentralized CPD method. Notable financial difficulties, a lack of staff, unsupportive employers, regulatory bodies’ less striction, and restricted access to training close to their place of employment were among the major challenges identified for the CPD program. Conclusion This study demonstrated that participants’ attitudes and perceptions of the CPD program were believed to be essential for medical laboratory professional career development. The study highlighted the importance of a centrally administered CPD program facilitated by professional associations and regulatory entities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07633-6AttitudeCPDMedical laboratory professionalsPerception |
| spellingShingle | Adugna Negussie Abay Sisay Agumas Shibabaw Edosa Kebede Firehiwot Tesfaye Gizachew Kedida Nadew Deneke Takele Teklu Waqtola Cheneke Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study BMC Medical Education Attitude CPD Medical laboratory professionals Perception |
| title | Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study |
| title_full | Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study |
| title_short | Perceptions, attitudes, and challenges regarding continuing professional development among Ethiopian medical laboratory professionals: a mixed-methods study |
| title_sort | perceptions attitudes and challenges regarding continuing professional development among ethiopian medical laboratory professionals a mixed methods study |
| topic | Attitude CPD Medical laboratory professionals Perception |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07633-6 |
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