Enhancing skills to promote the utilization of medical laboratory equipment in low resource settings

Oshabaheebwa, S; Namuli, LK; Tusabe, MS; Nantume, J; Ackers, L; Ssekitoleko, RT

Abstract

Objective
This study was to demonstrate the efficacy of an intervention model involving on-going skills enhancement of users, Biomedical Engineers and Technicians (BMETs) in enhancing the utilization of medical laboratory equipment in low resource settings.

Methods
In an action research study, the condition of 202 pieces of medical equipment in seven regional blood banks in the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS) were studied prospectively from January 2018 to December 2018. Of these, 160 pieces were included in the intervention group where users and BMETs were mentored and trained in the use and preventive maintenance for all equipment types. A second group of 42 pieces of medical equipment which were not involved in the intervention program, were assessed for comparison. Twenty-one participants were interviewed to obtain detailed information about their experiences and the impact of the training interventions.

Results
The percentage of equipment in good working condition and in use in the intervention group improved from 60% to 74%, while the improvement recorded in the second group was slower (48% to 55%) over the one-year period. Equipment in the intervention group were three times more likely to be in good working condition and in use at the end of the study period with an odds ratio of 3.2 (95% CI: 1.49 to 6.83) and P value < 0.001.

Conclusion
The model applied by Knowledge for Change (K4C) that involves co-learning and mentorship of users and BMETs was successful and should be implemented in other health facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 1, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jan 9, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 4, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 12, 2020
• Journal: Health Policy and Technology
• Print ISSN: 2211-8837
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 94-101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.01.001
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.01.001
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/health-policy-and-technology
• Additional Information: Projects : Biomedcial engineering in the Ugandan Blood transfusion service