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A two-year study of microscopic urinalysis competency using the urinalysis-review computer program.
1Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Education, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. mastion@u.washington.edu
Clinical Chemistry
|June 3, 1999
Summary
A new computer program, Urinalysis-Review™, effectively assesses medical technologists' competency in microscopic urinalysis. This tool establishes baseline performance metrics for this common laboratory test, aiding future educational improvements.
Area of Science:
- Clinical laboratory science
- Medical technology assessment
- Diagnostic urinalysis
Background:
- Microscopic urine sediment examination is a frequent laboratory test.
- No prior studies detailed medical technologist competency in this area.
- Lack of standardized competency assessment tools hinders evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop and implement a computer-based tool for assessing microscopic urinalysis competency.
- Establish baseline competency measurements for medical technologists.
- Provide a uniform assessment method across institutions.
Main Methods:
- Developed and utilized Urinalysis-Review™ software for competency testing.
- Administered eight exams over two years to an average of 58 medical technologists per exam.
- Exams included structure identification (cells, casts, crystals, organisms/artifacts) and quantification questions.
Main Results:
- Medical technologists achieved high accuracy rates: 84% for cells, 72% for casts, 79% for normal crystals, 65% for abnormal crystals, 81% for organisms/artifacts, and 89% for quantification.
- These results may slightly underestimate actual competency due to image analysis without chemistry data.
Conclusions:
- Computer programs are feasible for clinical laboratory competency assessment.
- The study provides baseline competency data for microscopic urinalysis.
- This data will inform future studies on continuing education effectiveness.