Professionalism for intern blood transfusion biomedical technologists: an exploration of perceptions and potential teaching strategies

Date
2016-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Technical skills as well as professional values are essential areas of development in all health professional students including intern biomedical technologists. The aim of this study was to understand the intern blood transfusion biomedical technologists’ perceptions of professionalism and to explore potential strategies for effective teaching of professionalism for improved application and practice. The key objective was to use the data findings to guide the upscale and redesign of the blood transfusion biomedical technology internship curriculum. A mixed methods research design was applied in the study using a questionnaire in quantitative phase and focus group discussions in the qualitative phase of the study. Purposive sampling was applied and the data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that professionalism was perceived differently by the various interns with no primary or consistent definition of professionalism. Structured, rather than informal teaching of professionalism in the internship program as well as biomedical technology university undergraduate programs surfaced as an inarguable need. A host of meaningful approaches for teaching and learning professionalism were suggested by the interns and their educators. The findings provide a strong argument with recommendations for the upscale and redesign of the formal biomedical technology curricula to meet present day health care needs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Tegniese vaardighede sowel as professionele waardes is beide sleutelareas van ontwikkeling in alle gesondheidsberoepe studente met inbegrip van biomediese tegnoloë. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die bloedoortapping biomediesetegnologie internskapstudente se persepsies van professionaliteit te verstaan en om potensiële strategië te verken vir die effektiewe onderrig van professionaliteit en wat toepassing en praktyke sal verbeter. Die sleuteldoelstelling was om die bevindinge te gebruik as riglyn vir die opgradering en herontwerp van die bloedoortapping biomediese tegnologie internskapkurrikulum. ‘n Gemengdemetodes navorsingsontwep is toegepas in die studie waarin ‘n vraelys gebruik is in die kwantitatiewe fase en fokusgroepbesprekings in die kwalitatiewe fase van die studie. ‘n Doelgerigte streekproefneming is gebruik en die data wat ingesamel is, is geanaliseer deur tematiese analise. Die uitslag het gewys dat professionaliteit verskillend beskou is deur die verskillende internskapstudente met geen primêre of konstante definisie van professionaliteit nie. Gestruktureerde eerder dan informele onderrig van professionaliteit in die internskapprogram sowel as in biomediese tegnologie voorgraadse programme is geopper as ‘n onomwonde behoefte. ‘n Uitgebreide lys van sinvolle benaderings vir onderrig en leer van professionaliteit is aangedui deur die internskapstudente en hulle dosente. Die bevindinge het ‘n sterk argument en aanbevelings vir die verbetering en herontwerp van die formele biomediese tegnologie internskapkurrikulum verskaf ten einde in die hedendaagse gesondheidsbehoeftes te voorsien.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Biomedical technicians -- Professional ethics, Biomedical technicians -- Research, Medicine -- Study and teaching, Interns
Citation