Karen A Moffat1,2, Verena Kiencke3, Alicia N Blanco4, Claire McLintock5, Flora Peyvandi6,7, Moniek P M de Maat8, Murray J Adams9, Pantep Angchaisuksiri10, Sukesh Nair11, Hiroko Tsuda12, Munif Haddad3, Thomas Renné3, R Cary Clark13, Michael T Ross14. 1. Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 3. Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany. 4. Hemostasis and Thrombosis Department, IIHEMA-National Academy of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5. National Women's Health, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. 6. Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Haemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 7. Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 8. Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam,, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 9. College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia. 10. Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. 11. Department of Immunohematology & Transfusion Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. 12. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, Japan. 13. International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Carrboro, NC, USA. 14. Primrose Lane Medical Centre, NHS Fife, Rosyth, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Laboratory analyses of blood samples are essential for diagnostics and therapy monitoring of patients with bleeding and thromboembolic diseases. Following publication of the core curriculum for clinical thrombosis and hemostasis, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recognized that thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory specialists require distinct competencies that differ from medical doctors working clinically with patients. To address this gap the ISTH formed a working group of international hemostasis and thrombosis laboratory specialists to develop an evidence-based core curriculum for laboratory specialists. OBJECTIVE: This research sought consensus from the international community on core competencies required for laboratory specialists in thrombosis and hemostasis. METHODS: A draft list of 64 competencies was developed and an online stakeholder survey was circulated electronically to 15 302 ISTH members and contacts in the wider international community. The results were analyzed and used to develop the final approved core curriculum. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty responses contained meaningful data, with broad international representation of specialists. No draft competencies were excluded, and 58 were rated as "does" or "shows how." The Leik measure of consensus for most competences was "moderate" (n = 30) or "fair" (n = 32). CONCLUSIONS: The development of an international core curriculum for laboratory specialists provides a foundation for the development and enhancement of education and quality management of the laboratory. Although there is no formal designation for laboratory specialists, international governing bodies and regulatory organizations are encouraged to consider the diagnostic core curriculum for development and accreditation of more standardized educational programs and formal assessment across jurisdictions.
BACKGROUND: Laboratory analyses of blood samples are essential for diagnostics and therapy monitoring of patients with bleeding and thromboembolic diseases. Following publication of the core curriculum for clinical thrombosis and hemostasis, the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recognized that thrombosis and hemostasis laboratory specialists require distinct competencies that differ from medical doctors working clinically with patients. To address this gap the ISTH formed a working group of international hemostasis and thrombosis laboratory specialists to develop an evidence-based core curriculum for laboratory specialists. OBJECTIVE: This research sought consensus from the international community on core competencies required for laboratory specialists in thrombosis and hemostasis. METHODS: A draft list of 64 competencies was developed and an online stakeholder survey was circulated electronically to 15 302 ISTH members and contacts in the wider international community. The results were analyzed and used to develop the final approved core curriculum. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty responses contained meaningful data, with broad international representation of specialists. No draft competencies were excluded, and 58 were rated as "does" or "shows how." The Leik measure of consensus for most competences was "moderate" (n = 30) or "fair" (n = 32). CONCLUSIONS: The development of an international core curriculum for laboratory specialists provides a foundation for the development and enhancement of education and quality management of the laboratory. Although there is no formal designation for laboratory specialists, international governing bodies and regulatory organizations are encouraged to consider the diagnostic core curriculum for development and accreditation of more standardized educational programs and formal assessment across jurisdictions.