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

[摘要] 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.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University