Objective: The workload affects the quality of the pathology report. The aim of this study was to investigate the territorial distribution and productivity of pathology laboratories around Turkey and to estimate the staff workload. Material and Method:A survey questioning the workload was sent to all Ministry of Health and university hospitals. Staff workload was questioned according to the hospital classification and educational activity to evaluate the productivity. Data were entered using SPSS 16.0 statistical software package program and the distribution criteria, t-test and one-way anova were used in the analysis to evaluate the differences between the averages.Results: An average of 2.8 pathologists worked at the pathology laboratories. A total of 5.500 biopsies and 3.750 cytology specimens were received and 20.000 blocks prepared per year. Pathologists evaluated 1.935 biopsies and 1.400 cytology specimens on average and this is equivalent to 2.718 biopsies per year. Gynecology and general surgery department materials constituted 57 percent of all biopsies. Each technician prepared 6.200 blocks, 11.500 slides and 1.000 immunohistochemistry preparations on average. An average of 3.4 paraffin blocks was prepared for each biopsy. The efficiency was low in 17% of teaching hospitals and 77.8% of non-teaching hospitals. In contrast 62.5% of teaching hospitals had work overload. The majority (70.5%) of the respondents mentioned staff shortage. Conclusion:There is no pathologist shortage in Turkey and the problem is workload distribution. Pathology residents' overwork would be reduced by using pathology assistants. There is no shortage of technicians or secretaries, but uneven distribution. Pathology staff planning must be tailored taking into account the features of each hospital. Standard planning for all hospitals is not suitable.Key Words: Pathology, Laboratories, Staff workload, Quality control ÖZ Amaç: Çalışanları iş yükü, patoloji raporunun kalitesini etkiler. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye' de kamu hastanelerinde patoloji laboratuvarlarının ülke genelindeki dağılımlarını, verimliliklerini ve laboratuvarlarda çalışan personelin iş yüklerini ortaya koymaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem:Sağlık Bakanlığı ve üniversitelere bağlı tüm patoloji laboratuvarlarına iş yüklerini sorgulayan bir anket formu posta yolu ile gönderilmiştir. Personel iş yükleri, hastane sınıfları, asistan eğitimi olan ve olmayan kurumlara göre değerlendirilmiş, verimsiz laboratuvarlar saptanmaya çalışılmıştır. Veriler SPSS 16.0 istatistik paket programı aracılığıyla girilmiş ve analizlerde dağılım ölçütleri ve ortalamalar arası farkı değerlendirmek için t-testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Laboratuvarlarda ortalama 2.8 patolog çalışmakta, ortalama 5.500 biyopsi, 3.750 sitolojik örnek gelmekte, 20.000 blok yapılmaktadır. Patolog başına yılda ortalama 1.935 biyopsi, 1.400 sitoloji ve toplamda 2.718 biyopsi eşdeğeri iş düşmektedir. Tüm biyopsilerin %57'sini jinekoloji ve genel cerrahi bölümleri göndermektedir. Bir teknisye...
Objective: Efficiency criteria and automation in pathology laboratories have been set in a limited number of studies usually originated from the United States. A questionnaire has been prepared to determine the situation and define the criteria for adaptation in our country. Material and Method:The survey was sent to all pathology laboratories and, 302 responded. The survey questionned of pathology laboratories efficiencies, staff workloads, methods applied, devices used, and physical conditions. Work flow productivity was obtained by dividing the annual number of blocks to working hours multiplied by the number of technicians. The hospitals were categorized to 3 groups according to providing training or not and privacy, and to 4 groups according to the annual biopsy numbers. The data entered through the SPSS 16.0 statistical package program, analysis of distribution criteria, significance of the difference between means tests were used. Results:The annual biopsy numbers were significantly higher in education units, but below the limit of productivity levels for all laboratories. The device hardware and automation correlated with annual biopsy numbers. However, the laboratories of limited capacity have redundant automation. Histochemical and immunohistochemical staining numbers were high. Liquid-based cytology techniques were used more significantly in private hospitals. Archiving times were not standard. A serious shortage of working space in service hospitals was noted. Work flow productivity in education units was at the border, and low in other units. Conclusion:All pathology laboratories in our country should define and improve their productivities. Formalizing of archiving times is very important for future malpractice lawsuits.
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