Continuing education for cytotechnologists: the Australian experience

Cytotechnologists' education and work in Finland

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to survey the work that cytotechnologists carry out in Finland.

METHODS

An electronic questionnaire was planned with the Board of the Finnish Association of Cytotechnologists and an email containing the link was sent to all 107 of its members in January 2018. It included 17 questions on their age and work experience, education and work. There was also space for them to add other comments.

RESULTS

Just under half (45%) replied. Their average age was 51 years (range 28-64), 41% had a Bachelor's degree, 59% had college-level training and they had spent an average of 15 years screening cytology specimens. After basic professional education, they had completed their cytology education in many ways and the most common routes were internship training (71%) and 1-year cytology specialisation (38%). Most of the cytotechnologists (85%) had duties other than screening and they mostly included a combination of histotechnology and cytotechnology (37.5%) or just cytotechnology (17%) or histotechnology (9%). The other 15% only screened cytology specimens. All cytotechnologists screened Papanicolaou smears, 94% screened urinary and respiratory specimens, 82% screened effusions and 39% screened fine-needle aspirations.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that internship training provided essential training for Finnish cytotechnologists after they complete their basic professional studies. They reported many other duties in addition to microscopy screening.

Finnish cytotechnologists' views on the competencies of newly graduated biomedical scientists in clinical cytology

OBJECTIVE

This study asked 40 cytotechnologists for their views on the competencies of newly graduated biomedical scientists in clinical cytology during the national conference of the Finnish Association of Cytotechnologists in November 2015.

METHODS

The questionnaire mainly consisted of statements that were scored on a five-point Likert-scale, where 1 was not important and 5 was very important. It covered five sections of clinical cytology: sampling and techniques, gynaecological screening, non-gynaecological screening, safety and quality management, and miscellaneous.

RESULTS

Of the 40 delegates approached to complete the questionnaire, 37 (92.5%) agreed. Respondents felt that important sampling and technique competencies were specimen fixation, with a mean score of 4.9 out of 5.0, types of specimens (4.7), Papanicolaou smear collection (4.7), Papanicolaou smear request information (4.7) and evaluation of specimen sufficiency (4.6). Less important competencies were examining FNAs (2.0) and nasopharyngeal specimens (2.2). The respondents had many expectations about how education in cytology could be developed, for example more theoretical lessons, more practice in microscope use, and consistent criteria for training and cooperation between cytology laboratories and universities of applied sciences.

CONCLUSIONS

The cytotechnologists who took part in our survey expected newly graduated biomedical scientists to have basic competencies in cytology. These were sampling and techniques, laboratory safety and quality management, specimen adequacy and identifying normal cells taken during gynaecological screening. They were also keen to develop education in cytology.

Continuing education for pathology laboratory technologists: a needs analysis in a Singapore teaching hospital

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Continuing education is important to laboratory technologists. It helps them keep pace with the advances in medicine and pathology and thus to provide quality service. A survey was conducted to assess the attitudes of pathology laboratory technologists towards different educational activities.

METHODS

Relevant continuing education activities include lectures, case discussions, journal clubs, short courses, scientific conferences and higher educational courses. Technologists were asked for their views on these various activities, scoring each item 1-5 out of 5.

RESULTS

The response rate was 66% (19/29); respondents' work experience ranged from <3 years to >20 years. Short courses was rated the most highly; 89% of respondents considered them good/excellent. General medical knowledge and the methods and rationale of key histopathology procedures were the preferred lecture topics. Most respondents (58%) were interested (4-5/5) to have their own journal club. 84% of respondents were fairly keen/keen (4-5/5) to participate in conferences. 74% responded that they were fairly keen/keen to consider pursuing higher education. 84% were fairly keen/keen to upgrade themselves and to assume higher responsibilities.

DISCUSSION

The results indicate a positive outlook of technologists towards continuing education. The planning of future lecture topics has taken into account their preferences, and talks on the pursuit of higher education have been organised. It is hoped that these measures and others, will help boost the usefulness of continuing education and enhance the work environment.