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dc.contributorFaculty of Health and Social Sciencesen_US
dc.creatorMa, Victor-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/12845-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic Universityen_US
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleKnowledge, attitude and perception of undergraduate students toward medical laboratory accreditation : a prospective cohort studyen_US
dcterms.abstractBackground:en_US
dcterms.abstractUndergraduate medical laboratory science (MLS) students are expected to achieve competency with laboratory accreditation (LA) before entering practice. A prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the LA competency of undergraduate students, in terms of their knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) toward the LA, and how it is related to the curriculum of a MLS programme.en_US
dcterms.abstractMethods:en_US
dcterms.abstractThis study involved five phases. In phase one, the curriculum of the existing MLS programme of a local university was reviewed to identify LA-related subjects and their mode of delivery. The information collected was then used for the analysis to determine the associations of the student KAP levels towards LA with demographics. In phase two, the content validity of the self-developed questionnaire was determined to evaluate the relevancy of each item. As all KAP items of the questionnaire were relevant, so the cross-sectional study was devised in phase three, and aimed to explore students’ LA competency by measuring their KAP levels toward LA at various stages of the study, and evaluate their associations with demographic characteristics such as age, gender and academic performance. The findings were further suggested to follow a group of year 2 students for the longitudinal study because LA-related content was delivered during the second to third study years of the MLS programme. Then, to observe the changes in their KAP levels throughout their study course period in phase four. Finally, a pre-and-post analysis was performed by using the data obtained from a longitudinal study, to measure and compare the changes in the students’ KAP levels before and after they participate in clinical practicum (CP).en_US
dcterms.abstractResults:en_US
dcterms.abstractFirstly, the curriculum review demonstrated CP in the four core specialties is the major component for students who spent their time and effort learning the LA knowledge. Whereas lectures and practicals are distributed throughout the curriculum to deliver LA-related theories and principles, especially in the foundation and consolidation subjects in the first and last study years, correspondingly. These findings illustrated current MLS programme curriculum places a significant emphasis on the importance of LA-related attributes and competence. Second, a significant improvement in KAP, K, A and P scores (p<0.001) was found when students attended a combined mode of LA learning in core specialty subjects. In the correlation analysis, the KAP scale, K and P subscales were not correlated (0.000 ≤ r<0.199) with gender or academic performance of the studied population, except the A subscale was weakly correlated (0.299> r >0.199, p<0.01) with academic performance. Whilst, the KAP scale and subscales have strong (r>0.699, p<0.01) to weak correlation (0.299> r >0.199, p<0.01) with cumulated LA learning. Moreover, the KAP, K, A and P levels of the students toward LA were strongly positive inter-correlated (0.562> r >0.634, p<0.01). Third, the significant improvement in the student’s KAP levels towards LA can be predicted (p<0.001) by the cumulated LA learning of core specialty subjects, delivered through a combination of lectures, practicals and CP. Fourth, the pre-and post-analysis further supported the findings in a longitudinal study. The significant increment (p<0.001) of KAP levels was observed only in the student groups with the combined mode of LA learning, instead of sole attendance of lecture and practical or CP.en_US
dcterms.abstractConclusions:en_US
dcterms.abstractThe current curriculum of the MLS programme places significant emphasis on the importance of LA learning. The newly developed questionnaire was shown to be a reliable instrument, so it is suggested for usage in future research studies. Among students in different study years, senior students generally exhibited higher levels of KAP towards LA. It can be explained by the attendance of more LA learnings in the core specialty subjects. It was postulated that the students first gained LA knowledge of core specialty subjects in lectures and practicals, then through applying and solidifying this LA knowledge during the experiential learning from CP, to further enhance their attitudes and perception towards LA, before they become competent MLS practitioners.en_US
dcterms.extentxxi, 161 pages : color illustrationsen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2023en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelDHScen_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.LCSHMedical laboratories -- Accreditationen_US
dcterms.LCSHCollege students -- Attitudesen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

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