Validation of a laboratory and hospital information system in a medical laboratory accredited according to ISO 15189

Introduction

The aim of the study was to present a protocol for laboratory information system (LIS) and hospital information system (HIS) validation at the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine of the Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.

Materials and methods:

Validity of data traceability was checked by entering all test requests for virtual patient into HIS/LIS and printing corresponding barcoded labels that provided laboratory analyzers with the information on requested tests. The original printouts of the test results from laboratory analyzer(s) were compared with the data obtained from LIS and entered into the provided template. Transfer of data from LIS to HIS was examined by requesting all tests in HIS and creating real data in a finding generated in LIS. Data obtained from LIS and HIS were entered into a corresponding template. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of transfer obtained from laboratory analyzers and results transferred from LIS and HIS expressed as percentage (%).

Results:

The accuracy of data transfer from laboratory analyzers to LIS was 99.5% and of that from LIS to HIS 100%.

Conclusion:

We presented our established validation protocol for laboratory information system and demonstrated that a system meets its intended purpose.     

Redefinition of gestational diabetes mellitus: implications for laboratory practice in Croatia

An increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes has become a very challenging task in prenatal care worldwide. International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) has recently issued recommendations on the diagnosis and classification of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy. These recommendations, the first to provide harmonised, evidence-based criteria for the diagnosis and classification of diabetes in pregnancy, are currently being discussed and accepted worldwide by the relevant authorities. As the acceptance of the proposed criteria has major implications for both clinical and laboratory settings, a concerted action towards necessary changes in practice has to be carefully planned and adjusted to national health-care specificities.IADPSG criteria have been strongly advocated by the Croatian Perinatology Society, resulting in a new strategy for the detection and diagnosis of hyperglycaemic disorders in pregnancy.To address the respective laboratory requirements, in April 2012, the Croatian Chamber of Medical Biochemists appointed a Working Group to provide a standardised procedure for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes, applicable to all laboratories involved in prenatal care, in both primary and specialised health-care facilities.In this paper we discuss key laboratory-related issues regarding succesful implementation of the IADPSG criteria in Croatia.     

Benchmarking the digital divide using a multi-level outranking framework: Evidence from EBRD countries of operation

The paper proposes an innovative procedure for benchmarking the digital divide. The study demonstrates the potential of an outranking approach as an alternative to the commonly used ranking models based on Composite Indices (CIs). To fulfill the objectives of the benchmarking process, an ELECTRE-based (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalité; Elimination and Choice Corresponding to Reality) multi-level outranking (ELECTRE MLO) method is developed. The proposed approach improves on previous methods of benchmarking the digital divide in two ways: by classifying countries into hierarchical levels of performance and by identifying corresponding benchmarks for less successful ones. The method is applied to 29 EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) countries of operation. The results are visualized in the form of a relation tree, thus providing clear insights for policy-makers regarding how countries stand relative to each other.     

The overall knowledge of genetics in Serbian speech and language pathologists

ABSTRACT

An increase in the number of children with speech–language pathology also having a genetic disorder imposes the need for speech and language pathologists (SLPs) to have sufficient knowledge about genetic basis of speech–language disorders. Research aim was to estimate in Serbian SLPs different aspects of theoretical and practical knowledge about intercorrelation of genetics and speech and language pathology and to compare obtained results with the results of SLPs in the United States. The questionnaire from Tramontana’s study was used in our study. Comparison of the results that obtained in our study with those in Tramontana’s study has shown that our study respondents have higher General Knowledge Index (78.6%: 66.2%), higher mean confidence summary score (22.2: 16.7) and higher mean score of ‘overall’ attitudes about genetics and its relation with communication disorders (20.8: 13.6). Differences which emerge from educational programmes, educational levels and practical experience in the observed groups are indicated as possible causes of differences in the obtained results. On the basis of the obtained results, it may be concluded that it is necessary to elevate SLPs’ level of general knowledge about genetics and to acquire their knowledge through clinical practice.     

Low level of adherence to instructions for 24-hour urine collection among hospital outpatients

Introduction:

We hypothesized that patients are poorly informed about proper procedure for 24-hour urine specimen collection and its relevance in determination of biochemical analytes, despite availability of leaflets and webpage with instruction for collection. The aim of this survey was to question outpatients how well are they informed about procedure of 24-hour urine specimen collection.

Materials and methods:

The survey with 10 questions was done in outpatient laboratory of University Department of Chemistry, Medical School University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia. The study included 59 patients with collected 24-hour urine sample who have consented to participate in the survey.

Results:

Out of 59 participants, most of them (0.97) were older than 40 years. Internet was not recognized as a source of information (1/59). Almost one third of the patients have changed their drinking habits to collect more urine volume. Although most of the patients (0.60) were aware that the bottle of water is the best choice for the container, almost half of them were collected urine samples in the plastic soft drink bottle. Laboratory staff and physicians often have given information about proper collection procedure, but that information was insufficient.

Conclusions:

Patients are usually not aware of importance of proper preanalytical procedure for collecting urine specimen and how improper collection could affect results of requested tests. Education of outpatients, general practitioners and laboratory staff is needed in order to improve sample quality and trueness of results.     

Fostering students’ participation in creating educational content through crowdsourcing

This paper proposes and evaluates a model of crowdsourcing in microlearning that includes the balancing of collaborative learning and crowdsourcing mechanisms. The goal of the research is to implement a learner-centered approach through crowdsourced content creation and to improve the process and outcomes of learning. Crowdsourced content creation was accomplished through a collaborative project within a higher education institution. Micro-courses in the form of short video lessons were created by students and published on the Coursmos platform and a certain group of students attended these micro-courses. The evaluation was carried out at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, the University of Belgrade on a sample of 71 students who created micro-courses and 74 students who attended these micro-courses. The results show that the developed model provides simple communication and collaboration among students, high level of their self-organization and satisfaction, efficient management of crowdsourcing network and collaborative knowledge building.