AUTHOR=Bashir Amreen , Wilkins Kayleigh , Pallett Ross 

TITLE=An Innovative Workshop Embedding Pathology Service Users into the Undergraduate Biomedical Science Curriculum

JOURNAL=British Journal of Biomedical Science

VOLUME=Volume 80 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/british-journal-of-biomedical-science/articles/10.3389/bjbs.2023.11584

DOI=10.3389/bjbs.2023.11584

ISSN=2474-0896

ABSTRACT=The integration of pathology service users into the Biomedical Science curriculum has been driven by the refinement of the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency. This study aimed to design and implement a novel and innovative service user event with a reflective assessment to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the impact of pathology laboratory results upon the patient pathway. The four-hour workshop consisted of a series of service users. Patients discussed how pathology services have contributed to their diagnosis and treatment, whilst service providers; a Microbiology Consultant, director of primary care and the patient referral optimisation officer discussed their roles and their interaction with pathology services. Post-event, students completed a 750-word reflective assessment highlighting challenges experienced by service users and provided suggestions to improve the delivery of pathology services. Fifty-eight percent of respondents (58/99) completed a post-reflection survey which included open and closed questions. Quantitative analysis of the survey data revealed that over 87.7% of respondents have an increased knowledge and understanding of the revised HCPC standards. Post-assessment, students reported a significant increase in their confidence with respect to reflective writing (p<0.001), with over 90% of respondents agreeing that the reflective assessment increased their knowledge and understanding of the limitations that may negatively impact service users and patient care. Moreover, respondents highlighted how advancements in Point of Care Testing (POCT) and improvements in communication can improve patient experiences. Thematic analysis revealed that respondents agreed that embedding patients into the curriculum reinforced the importance of there being a patient behind each sample. Respondents reported that reflecting upon service user experiences enabled them to identify improvements to the delivery of pathology services, whilst recognising the essential role that Biomedical Scientist’s play in the patient pathway. This successful workshop created a platform encompassing a range of pathology service users into the undergraduate curriculum. We recommend other accredited Biomedical Science programmes adopt and embed this innovative workshop and reflective assessment into their programmes to help them meet these standards relating to service users, whilst fostering important transferable skills in their students.