Hybrid Mentorship of Medical Laboratories to Achieve ISO 15189:2012 Accreditation in Malawi: The University of Maryland Malawi Experience.

Autor:	Moyo H; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Osawe S; Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria. sosawe@ihvnigeria.org., Nyangulu C; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Ndhlovu P; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Harawa V; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Divala O; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Msukwa M; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Croxton T; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA., Blanco N; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA., Mwandama D; University Research Co. Lilongwe, Malawi., Mkandawire M; University Research Co. Lilongwe, Malawi., Kampira E; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kaba M; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Maida A; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Auld AF; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kim L; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi.; U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA, USA., Mwenda R; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kress H; Division of Global HIV and TB, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kandulu J; Diagnostic Department, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi., Sumani T; Diagnostic Department, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi., Bitilinyu J; Diagnostic Department, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi., Kalua T; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, Lilongwe, Malawi., Abimiku A; Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.; Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Division of Global Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Global health, science and practice [Glob Health Sci Pract] 2024 Dec 20; Vol. 12 (6). Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Dec 20 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI:	10.9745/GHSP-D-24-00254
Abstrakt:	Introduction: As part of a laboratory strengthening program in Malawi to achieve and maintain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 accreditation, we intended to mentor selected HIV molecular laboratories to achieve this accreditation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mentorship pivoted to a hybrid model using an Internet-based approach and on-site mentorships. We describe the implementation of this strategy, successes, and challenges. Methods: We conducted weekly, 1-hour virtual mentorship sessions for the 5 initial laboratories (cohort 1) selected based on their Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) performance score of 3 or more stars. Laboratories presented updates and supporting documents electronically, and trainings were conducted virtually. In September 2020, when travel restrictions were relaxed, we initiated hybrid mentorships and audits for cohort 1 laboratories. The same hybrid approach was used to mentor 4 additional laboratories in cohort 2. We performed descriptive analysis, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the training pre-and post-test scores. Results: Between March 2020 and May 2023, the team completed a total of 54 virtual mentorship sessions and 20 on-site visits across 9 laboratories. Overall, the team conducted 8 training sessions for 35 laboratory quality officers. Median score improvement (pre-test vs. post-test scores) was observed across individual trainings and across cohorts ( P <.01). At the end of cohort 1, 4 of 5 (80%) laboratories were accredited. One laboratory that did not reach accreditation joined cohort 2. At the end of the mentoring period, all 5 cohort 2 laboratories were accredited. Conclusions: We demonstrated that using a hybrid mentorship model for accreditation was a successful strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in Malawi, this strategy resulted in accrediting 9 of the 10 HIV molecular laboratories in 3 years at a reduced cost. Continuous mentorship is key in the maintenance of accreditation. (© Moyo et al.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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