Impact of mentoring on the implementation of the quality management system in clinical laboratories in Burkina Faso, West Africa

• Published in: Accountability in research Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 515 - 527
• Main Authors: Yenyetou, Dame, Sanou, Issouf, Madingar, Patrick Djim-Madjim, Ouattara, Cheick, Zongo, Emmanuel, Zongo, Zeynab, Ouedraogo, Abdoul Salam, Sangare, Ibrahim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 03.07.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Burkina Faso; clinical biology laboratory; Customer services; Diagnostics; Humans; impact; Laboratories; Laboratories, Clinical - organization & administration; Laboratories, Clinical - standards; management; Mentoring; Mentoring - organization & administration; Mentoring - standards; Mentoring programs; quality; Quality control; Quality improvement; Quality Improvement - organization & administration; Quality Improvement - standards; Quality management; SLIPTA; Burkina Faso; Mentoring; management; SLIPTA; clinical biology laboratory; impact; quality
• ISSN: 0898-9621; 1545-5815; 1545-5815
• DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2022.2145957

In Burkina Faso, the implementation of the quality management system remains weak in diagnostic laboratories. Integrating mentoring into the life of clinical diagnostic laboratories, a qualified mentor is essential for quality system control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the mentoring process on quality improvement. Mentoring process was implemented at nine laboratories. The process consisted of a one-week mentor stay in the laboratory as one visit, with four in total. The SLIPTA checklist was used as a measurement tool. Two audits were performed (before and after the implementation of the mentoring process. The audit data were analyzed to estimate the effect of mentoring on quality improvement. A score difference of 24.55% was found significant between the two audits (paired Student's t-test p-value = 0.0002). The variables non-conformities, corrective/preventive actions, and facilities/safety have factored more than eight points between the two audits. However, the management/customer service and information one have only slightly increased (2.27 and 0.63, respectively). Mentoring has improved the quality management system in laboratories. However, some points of the process need to be improved to bring these laboratories toward international accreditation.