Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

Makokha, Ernest P.; Mwalili, Samuel; Basiye, Frank; Zeh, Clement; Emonyi, Wilfred; Langat, Raphael; Luman, Elizabeth T.; Mwangi, Jane

doi:10.4102/ajlm.v3i2.220

Cited by 22 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(17 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Other studies have also noted that supplementing SLMTA with additional training and mentoring may be beneficial. 9,10,11 Our findings, when joined with these others, suggest that combining SLMTA with other strategies in a QMS programme may lead to synergistic improvement.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Accelerating the spread of laboratory quality improvement efforts in Botswana

Mokobela¹,

Moatshe²,

Modukanele

2014

Afr J Lab Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundIn 2002, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Botswana began its journey toward laboratory accreditation in an effort to enhance the quality of laboratory services. After a difficult start, the MoH recognised the need for a more practical and sustainable method for change that could be implemented nationally; they therefore adopted the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme.ObjectiveThis study describes the process and lessons learned in implementing SLMTA and the role of supplemental training and mentoring so as to achieve Botswana’s national laboratory quality improvement goal.MethodsEight laboratories were enrolled into the SLMTA programme in 2010, which included a series of workshops and improvement projects conducted over nine months. Four of these laboratories received supplementary training and focused mentorship from the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS). Laboratory performance was measured at baseline and exit using the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa’s Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist. One laboratory did not receive an exit audit and was thus excluded from the analysis.ResultsAn 18 percentage-point improvement was observed when comparing the median baseline score (53%) to the median exit score (71%) for the seven laboratories. Laboratories that received additional training and mentorship from BOBS improved 21 percentage points, whilst non-BOBS-mentored laboratories improved eight percentage points. Hospital management buy-in and strong laboratory staff camaraderie were found to be essential for the positive changes observed.ConclusionSLMTA facilitated improvements in laboratory quality management systems, yielding immediate and measurable results. This study suggests that pairing the SLMTA programme with additional training and mentorship activities may lead to further increases in laboratory performance; and that SLMTA is a practical approach to extending quality improvement to MOH laboratories.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Accelerating the spread of laboratory quality improvement efforts in Botswana

Mokobela¹,

Moatshe²,

Modukanele

2014

Afr J Lab Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Six papers presented experiences from a single laboratory 7,10,17,26,28 or a single hospital, 9 14 presented data from two to 45 laboratories within a single African country, 8, 12,–15,18,–22,25,29–31 one discussed activities in two Southeast Asian countries, 23 one covered data from four countries in the Caribbean Region 11 and six had a general or global focus. 1,16,23,24,32,33 In total, these studies included detailed information on SLMTA implementation in 211 laboratories in 18 countries.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive review of the SLMTA literature part 1: Content analysis and future priorities

2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundSince its introduction in 2009, the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme has been implemented widely throughout Africa, as well as in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia.ObjectiveWe compiled results from local, national and global studies to provide a broad view of the programme and identify directions for the future. The review consists of two companion papers; this paper focuses on content analysis, examining various thematic components of the SLMTA programme and future priorities.MethodsA systematic literature search identified 28 published articles about implementing the SLMTA programme. Results for various components of the SLMTA programme were reviewed and summarised.ResultsLocal and national studies provide substantial information on previous experiences with quality management systems; variations on SLMTA implementation; building human resource capacity for trainers, mentors and auditors; the benefits and effectiveness of various types of mentorship; the importance of management buy-in to ensure country ownership; the need to instill a culture of quality in the laboratory; success factors and challenges; and future directions for the programme.ConclusionsLocal, national and global results suggest that the SLMTA programme has been overwhelmingly successful in transforming laboratory quality management. There is an urgent need to move forward in four strategic directions: progression (continued improvement in SLMTA laboratories), saturation (additional laboratories within countries that have implemented SLMTA), expansion (implementation in additional countries), and extension (adapting SLMTA for implementation beyond the laboratory), to lead to transformation of overall health systems and patient care.

show abstract

“…10,11,12 Whilst conclusive evidence is lacking, as none of these programmes were designed as case-control studies (i.e., with mentors randomly assigned to laboratories), the combined anecdotal evidence strongly supports the benefit of such mentorship. Mentors who spend extended, well-structured periods in the laboratory working alongside the staff and helping participants to put quality improvement into practice through direct, daily coaching, can provide the needed support to fast-track laboratories toward quality improvement.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving quality in national reference laboratories: The role of SLMTA and mentorship

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe Nigerian Institute of Medical Research houses two reference laboratories: the virology and tuberculosis laboratories. Both were enrolled in the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme.ObjectiveTo describe the impact of SLMTA and discuss factors affecting the results, with an emphasis on mentorship.MethodsThe SLMTA programme was implemented from April 2010 through November 2012. Participants attended three workshops and executed quality improvement projects; laboratory auditors evaluated performance using a standard checklist. The virology laboratory did not receive mentorship; however, the tuberculosis laboratory had an international mentor who visited the laboratory four times during the programme, spending two to four weeks embedded within the laboratory during each visit.ResultsThere was an overall improvement in the performance of both laboratories, with the virology laboratory increasing 13% (from 80% at baseline to 93% at exit audit) and the tuberculosis laboratory increasing 29% (from 66% to 95%). These scores were maintained nine months later at the surveillance audit.ConclusionThe SLMTA programme resulted in improved and sustained quality management performance for both laboratories. Mentoring was a possible factor in the substantial improvement made by the tuberculosis laboratory and should be considered in order to augment the training received from the SLMTA workshops.

show abstract

Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

Cited by 22 publications

References 14 publications

Accelerating the spread of laboratory quality improvement efforts in Botswana

Accelerating the spread of laboratory quality improvement efforts in Botswana

A comprehensive review of the SLMTA literature part 1: Content analysis and future priorities

Improving quality in national reference laboratories: The role of SLMTA and mentorship

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About