Medical laboratory professional's perceptions of continuous medical education

Background: Medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) are required to gain credit for continuous professional development for relicensing as well as for their own career-long learning. International studies have shown that MLTs who undertake continuing medical education (CME) have improved productivity, enhanced professional flexibility and high work fulfilment. The time spent on CME is associated with professional competency. Previous national research has shown that attendance at CME programmes in Saudi Arabia is likely affected by demographic factors. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of MLTs towards CME activities and to predict factors that affect attendance. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was given to 103 medical laboratory professionals from the Security Forces Hospital as part of a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: The overall mean score was 3.88 for the 103 questionnaires, indicating an affirmative perception of the CME programmes. Males in the age group 25-34 years accounted for 61.2% of responses. The preferred delivery modes for CME programmes were short courses and workshops (23%) and higher education relevant courses (20%). For those who had attended CME and those who had not, no significant difference was found in gender, age, field of specialty, education categories or working experience. Conclusion: Most laboratory technicians in our study reported favourable perceptions of CME programmes, feeling that they increased professional confidence and competency. We recommend that core competencies be integrated into credentialing using profession-specific CME in a workplace setting. In addition, MLTs should be involved in designing the programmes as well. Further studies in a multicentre institution are needed to analyse the difference in perception among those who have attended CME and those who have not.