Doctoral Dissertations
Date of Award
8-1987
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Major Professor
Roger W. Haskell
Committee Members
Gerald D. Cheek, Caroll B. Coakley, George W. Harris
Abstract
The primary purposes of this study were to identify and validate current, essential competencies needed by medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) at career entry and to determine the relative importance of these specified competencies as perceived by clinical laboratory managers (CLMs), supervisors of MLTs, and MLTs. At the present time, very little research has been conducted in these areas.
The principal data were obtained using a validated, pretested instrument. Specified Competencies Needed by Medical Laboratory Technicians at Career Entry. Data were gathered from a randomly selected sample of 51 CLMs, 51 supervisors of MLTs, and 51 MLTs employed in 80 hospital clinical laboratories located within a 100-mile radius of East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee. The questionnaire was mailed to the respondents who were asked to: (1) rate the 67 specified competency items using a 5-point Likert scale which ranged from extreme importance to no importance; (2) indicate in which phase of training the specified competencies should primarily be acquired; and (3) rank the 10 specified competency categories from most important to least important. Background information was also obtained from the three respondent groups.
The conclusions drawn from the findings of this study were:
1. The instrumentation developed in this study provided a valid and reliable method for determining current, essential competencies needed by MLTs at career entry.
2. There was a consensus among CLMs, supervisors of MLTs, and MLTs that medical laboratory technicians needed to possess Identified, specified competencies to effectively provide health care services.
3. Medical laboratory technicians placed a higher Importance rating on the majority of the specified competencies Identified In the study.
4. There was a strong tendency for the three respondent groups to support the clinical phase of training as the primary phase in which the majority of specified competencies should be acquired.
5. Competency In the area of Interpersonal relations was valued most highly by the three respondent groups. Competence In the area of request for laboratory performance was valued least highly by the three respondent groups for effective performance by MLTs at career entry.
6. Background Information gathered from the three respondent groups Influenced the Importance ratings placed upon the specified competencies.
Recommended Citation
Barr, Sue Garland, "The identification and perceived importance of career-entry competencies needed by medical laboratory technicians. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1987.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/12015