USING THE DELPHI TECHNIQUE TO EVALUATE A CPD FRAMEWORK FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS AND MEDICAL TECHNIC

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USING THE DELPHI TECHNIQUE TO EVALUATE A CPD
FRAMEWORK FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS AND MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS SCHOOL OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CE
BRAND
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Delphi technique

• Developed RAND corporation in 1950s
• The Delphi technique was used to
• Make predictions and forecasts for the future
• Decision-making in political and emotional
  environment
• Decision making in strong feelings of opposing
  preferences
• Identifying strategies for developing staff and
  team building

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The Delphi technique entails the communication
amongst a group of individuals

• Avoids the conventional committee approach such
  as
• Time
• Expense
• Potential bias in decision making

• Inexpensive
• Fast
• Replicable
• Versatile
• Easy to understand

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Qualitative research method

• Quantitative data is associated with numbers and
  qualitative data with words
• Generation of primary data to reach consensus or
  stability
• Groups of people involved in the Delphi technique
• Monitoring team and/or researcher
• Panel of experts
• Manner of contact postal, e-mail or telephone

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Procedure

• Modified with different versions
• Classical or conventional has two main functions
• To determine consensus or forecasting and
  developments in new areas
• Achieved through a series of sequential
  questionnaires or rounds with feedback to the
  panel members
• Round one to generate ideas through
  brainstorming
• Often consists of open-ended questions

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Procedure (continued)

• Panel members are asked for their responses or
  comments
• Rounds two to four take the form of structured
  questions
• During these rounds panel members rank, edit,
  modify and add to the initial responses
• Rating the statements is often according to the
  five point Likert scale
• Consensus to a statement ? 80 agreement

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Panel members

• Do not interact with each other during the
  process
• Members express their true opinions
• Excludes the loudest voice or over-dominance
• Members express their views without fearing
  criticism
• Those that would otherwise feel isolated from a
  group can give their opinions

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Method used in this Delphi technique

• Information on CPD was already obtained through
  mailed questionnaire and interviews
• Therefore decided that three rounds would be
  sufficient
• Concept CPD framework was compiled in statements
  and included a few open-ended questions
• Rating was done on a three point Likert scale
  essential, useful and unnecessary

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Results

• 15 participants completed the three rounds
• At the end of the round one 21 statements reached
  consensus with ? 80
• At the end of round two an additional 12
  statements reached consensus
• At the end of round three another 11 statements
  reached consensus
• Statements that reached essential and useful were
  combined and another 28 reached consensus
• One statement were ranked as unnecessary

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Contents of the CPD framework

• HPCSA
• Employer /
• Manager

• CPD committee approves accreditation of CPD
  service providers
• CPD manager administer CPD
• Controls individual registration
• Laboratories comply with standards set by the
  HPCSA
• Participate in SKILLS development fund (lifelong
  learning)
• Provides and creates access to CPD activities

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Contents of the CPD framework

• SMLTSA
• Individual

• Acts as accreditor of service provider
• Provides CPD activities
• Encourages SMLTSA membership to obtain CEUs
• Registration with HPCSA in order to be able to
  practice
• Responsible for collecting the required number of
  CEUs

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Contents of the CPD framework

• HEI / Medical
• Companies /
• Other health
• professionals
• CPD activities

• Involved in providing activities that could be
  accredited for CPD
• Sources of lifelong learning
• Provide educational development to the individual
• Provided by the SMLTSA, employers, individuals
  themselves and other organisations

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Contents of the CPD framework

• Measure the outcomes

• CPD outcomes should be reflected in the
  individual, the employer (work environment) and
  recognised by the HPCSA

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Conclusion

• 100 co-operation were obtained from the
  panellists in responding to the three rounds
• The Delphi technique was a cost effective way in
  finalising the CPD framework
• The framework could be used to guide pathology
  laboratories and the blood transfusion service in
  offering CPD activities
• Participating in CPD activities to collect CEUs
  only - does not serve the purpose of CPD
• The outcomes reached because of CPD participation
  should be reflected in the work environment, the
  profession and the individual