Practicing nontechnical skills workshop for medical technologists

Abstract

A workshop-style seminar was held during the conference of the 54th Kyushu branch of the Japanese Association of Medical Technologists (JAMT) with the aim of acquiring the nontechnical skills necessary for medical technologists to play an active role in a medical team. Ninety-five clinical laboratory technologists in their 20s to 50s who attended the conference from all over Kyushu and 25 third- and fourth-year college students studying medical laboratory science participated in the workshop. The workshop consisted of two parts: the first part for learning and experiencing “nontechnical skills” and the second part for learning and experiencing “membership”. In the second part of the workshop, a “problem-solving exercise” using a training game was conducted in the group work, and 80% of the groups succeeded in solving problems by demonstrating leadership and actively exchanging information among members. In addition, some groups solved problems through autonomous discussions while flexibly exchanging roles between leaders and followers. Workshops that combine lectures and hands-on experience are expected to be effective in developing the nontechnical skills required of medical technologists.