Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Toward Continuing Professional Development among Medical Laboratory Scientists at Saifee Hospital, Karachi
Keywords:
Continuing professional development, medical laboratory, scientists, knowledge, medical technologyAbstract
Objective: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ensures medical laboratory professionals remain updated with advancements in diagnostics, quality assurance, and safety standards. Despite its recognized importance, CPD engagement remains inconsistent in low-resource settings. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers toward CPD among Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) at Saifee Hospital, Karachi.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 MLS at Saifee Hospital. Data were collected via a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated demographic characteristics, CPD knowledge, participation, attitudes, and perceived challenges. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests were applied; p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: A total of 103 responses were analyzed (response rate: 85.8%). While 91.3% of respondents acknowledged CPD's importance, only 36.9% had attended a CPD activity in the past year. Lack of institutional sponsorship (79.6%), time constraints (65.0%), and absence of CPD policy (61.1%) were the most cited barriers. Positive attitudes were observed in 88.3% of participants, with 82.5% expressing willingness to attend CPD outside working hours.
Conclusion: Despite strong positive attitudes and adequate knowledge regarding CPD, actual participation remains limited due to institutional and operational challenges. Structured CPD frameworks and institutional support are urgently required.
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