What should be done to improve cytopathology training in the UK?

Current state of cytopathology residency training: a Korean national survey of pathologists

BACKGROUND

Although the Korean Society for Cytopathology has developed educational goals as guidelines for cytopathology education in Korea, there is still no systematic approach to cytopathology education status for pathology residents. Furthermore, satisfaction with cytopathology education and with the outcome of the current training/educational program has not been investigated in Korea. This study aimed to obtain comprehensive data on the current state of cytopathology education for residents and evaluate education outcomes.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted in December 2020 for the board-certified pathologists and training residents registered as members of the Korean Society for Cytopathology. The questionnaire comprised questions that investigated the current status of cytopathology at each training institution, the degree of satisfaction with the work and education related to cytopathology, outcomes of cytopathology training, and educational accomplishments.

RESULTS

Of the participants surveyed, 12.3% (132/1,075) completed the questionnaire, and 36.8% (32/87) of cytopathology residents participated. The mean overall satisfaction with cytopathology education was 3.1 points (on a 1- to 5-point scale, 5: very satisfied). The most frequent suggestion among the free description format responses was to expand educational opportunities, such as online education opportunities, outside of the individual institutions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that cytopathology training in Korea needs further improvement. We expect that this study will inform systematic training of competent medical personnel armed with broad cytopathology knowledge and strong problem-solving abilities.

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.