Abstract:
Background: Effective Laboratory mentoring programs are essential for establishing and
strengthening quality management systems and supporting laboratories in achieving
accreditation goals. Only a few governmental healthcare institutions in Ethiopia's Wolaita Zone
have high scores in SLMTA. With the aim of assessing and increasing the number of accredited
medical laboratories, enhancing the quality management system, determining challenges, and
strengthening mentorship activities, an operational study was employed.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of laboratory mentorship practice and associated factors
among public hospital laboratories in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia, from June 1 to August 30, 2022.
Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted to collect primary and secondary
data from laboratory professionals. A structured questionnaire was used during data collection,
which was analyzed by SPSS version 25 statistical software. Multivariable logistic regression
was used to determine factors associated with the effectiveness of laboratory mentorship practice.
Result: A total of 118 respondents answered a questionnaire, with 32 of them (27.1%) saying that
mentors were accessible on a regular and frequent basis and 16.9% saying that the mentor spent
more time with the mentee throughout the mentorship practice. In the eight health facilities being
followed up on, (or 62.5%) had low scores in the Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process
Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) grade, and 12.5% had high scores (3-star grade). There was a
significant association between the effectiveness of laboratory mentorship practice and work
experience (AOR = 4.76, 95% CI 1.61–14.06), professional level (AOR = 0.185, 95% CI 0.023–
0.861), lack of experience, lack of accountability, mentor support and lack of staff commitment,
all of which had a significant difference with a P value >0.05.
Conclusion and recommendation: Low SLIPTA ratings were a consequence of ineffective
mentorship practices in medical laboratories in Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. Major factors affecting
effective laboratory mentorship practice include lack of work experience, professional level,
mentor support, lack of staff commitment, and lack of accountability. Everyone has to focus on
creating strong laboratory mentorship practices in order to increase the quality of laboratory
services.
