Original Research

Impact of mentorship on WHO-AFRO Strengthening Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA)

Talkmore Maruta, David Motebang, Lebina Mathabo, Philip J. Rotz, Joseph Wanyoike, Trevor Peter
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine | Vol 1, No 1 | a6 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v1i1.6 | © 2012 Talkmore Maruta, David Motebang, Lebina Mathabo, Philip J. Rotz, Joseph Wanyoike, Trevor Peter | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 November 2011 | Published: 16 February 2012

About the author(s)

Talkmore Maruta, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lesotho
David Motebang, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Lesotho
Lebina Mathabo, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Lesotho
Philip J. Rotz, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lesotho
Joseph Wanyoike, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lesotho
Trevor Peter, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Lesotho

Abstract

Background: The improvment of the quality of testing services in public laboratories is a high priority in many countries. Consequently, initiatives to train laboratory staff on quality management are being implemented, for example, the World Health Organization Regional Headquarters for Africa (WHO-AFRO) Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA). Mentorship may be an effective way to augment these efforts.
Methods: Mentorship was implemented at four hospital laboratories in Lesotho, three districts and one central laboratory, between June 2009 and December 2010. The mentorship model that was implemented had the mentor fully embedded within the operations of each of the laboratories. It was delivered in a series of two mentoring engagements of six and four week initial and follow-up visits respectively. In total, each laboratory received 10 weeks mentorship that was separated by 6–8 weeks. Quality improvements were measured at baseline and at intervals during the mentorship using the WHO-AFRO Strengthening Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) checklist and scoring system.
Results: At the beginning of the mentorship, all laboratories were at the SLIPTA zero star rating. After the initial six weeks of mentorship, two of the three district laboratories had improved from zero to one (out of five) star although the difference between their baseline (107.7) and the end of the six weeks (136.3) average scores was not statistically significant (p = 0.25). After 10 weeks of mentorship there was a significant improvement in average scores (182.3; p = 0.034) with one laboratory achieving WHO-AFRO three out of a possible five star status and the two remaining laboratories achieving a two star status. At Queen Elizabeth II (QE II) Central Laboratory, the average baseline score was 44%, measured using a section-specific checklist. There was a significant improvement by five weeks (57.2%; p = 0.021).
Conclusion: The mentorship programme in this study resulted in significant measurable improvements towards preparation for the WHO-AFRO SLIPTA process in less than six months. We recommend that mentorship be incorporated into laboratory quality improvement and management training programmes such as SLMTA, in order to accelerate the progress of laboratories towards achieving accreditation.


Keywords

Mentoring; accreditation; assessments; laboratory quality improvement; Lesotho

Metrics

Total abstract views: 13182
Total article views: 21149

 

Crossref Citations

1. Impact of ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study
Mercy A. Okezue, Mojisola C. Adeyeye, Steve J. Byrn, Victor O. Abiola, Kari L. Clase
BMC Health Services Research  vol: 20  issue: 1  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05934-8

2. Implementing surgical mentorship in a resource-constrained context: a mixed methods assessment of the experiences of mentees, mentors, and leaders, and lessons learned
Shehnaz Alidina, Meaghan M. Sydlowski, Olivia Ahearn, Bizuayehu G. Andualem, David Barash, Sehrish Bari, Erin Barringer, Abebe Bekele, Andualem D. Beyene, Daniel G. Burssa, Miliard Derbew, Laura Drown, Dereje Gulilat, Teruwork K. Gultie, Tuna C. Hayirli, John G. Meara, Steven J. Staffa, Samson E. Workineh, Noor Zanial, Zebenay B. Zeleke, Abraham E. Mengistu, Tigistu A. Ashengo
BMC Medical Education  vol: 22  issue: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03691-2

3. Strengthening laboratory quality through risk-based thinking: Implementation challenges and opportunities in Nigeria
Bruno Basil, Onyinye Ezinne Eze
Clinica Chimica Acta  vol: 589  first page: 121041  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2026.121041

4. Establishing an international laboratory network for neglected tropical diseases: Understanding existing capacity in five WHO regions
Laura Dean, Janet Njelesani, Charles Mulamba, Russell Dacombe, Pamela S. Mbabazi, Imelda Bates
F1000Research  vol: 7  first page: 1464  year: 2018  
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.16196.3

5. Key success factors for the implementation of quality management systems in developing countries
Iryna Tanasiichuk, Olha Karaman, Larysa Natrus
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine  vol: 12  issue: 1  year: 2023  
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v12i1.2058

6. Piloting Laboratory Quality System Management in Six Health Facilities in Nigeria
Henry Mbah, Emmanuel Ojo, James Ameh, Humphrey Musuluma, Olubunmi Ruth Negedu-Momoh, Feyisayo Jegede, Olufunmilayo Ojo, Nkem Uwakwe, Kingsley Ochei, Michael Dada, Donald Udah, Robert Chiegil, Kwasi Torpey, Joseph A. Keating
PLoS ONE  vol: 9  issue: 12  first page: e116185  year: 2014  
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116185

7. Implementing Laboratory Quality Management Systems in Mozambique: The Becton Dickinson–US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Public-Private Partnership Initiative
Beth Skaggs, Isabel Pinto, Jessina Masamha, David Turgeon, Eduardo Samo Gudo
Journal of Infectious Diseases  vol: 213  issue: suppl 2  first page: S47  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv544

8. Establishing an international laboratory network for neglected tropical diseases: Understanding existing capacity in five WHO regions
Laura Dean, Janet Njelesani, Charles Mulamba, Russell Dacombe, Pamela S. Mbabazi, Imelda Bates
F1000Research  vol: 7  first page: 1464  year: 2018  
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.16196.4

9. Establishing an international laboratory network for neglected tropical diseases: Understanding existing capacity in five WHO regions
Laura Dean, Janet Njelesani, Charles Mulamba, Russell Dacombe, Pamela S. Mbabazi, Imelda Bates
F1000Research  vol: 7  first page: 1464  year: 2018  
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.16196.1

10. Impact of mentoring on the implementation of the quality management system in clinical laboratories in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Dame Yenyetou, Issouf Sanou, Patrick Djim-Madjim Madingar, Cheick Ouattara, Emmanuel Zongo, Zeynab Zongo, Abdoul Salam Ouedraogo, Ibrahim Sangare
Accountability in Research  vol: 31  issue: 5  first page: 515  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1080/08989621.2022.2145957

11. Narrative review: Continuous professional development training programmes in Africa and their limitations
Nqobile Ndlovu, Rajiv Erasmus, Annalise Zemlin
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine  year: 2025  
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2602

12. Setting up a structured laboratory mentoring programme
Talkmore Maruta, Philip Rotz, Trevor Peter
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine  vol: 2  issue: 1  year: 2013  
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v2i1.77

13. Establishing an international laboratory network for neglected tropical diseases: Understanding existing capacity in five WHO regions
Laura Dean, Janet Njelesani, Charles Mulamba, Russell Dacombe, Pamela S. Mbabazi, Imelda Bates
F1000Research  vol: 7  first page: 1464  year: 2018  
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.16196.2