PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Haun, Daniel
AU  - Leach, Argie P
AU  - Lawrence, Louann W
AU  - Jarreau, Patsy
TI  - Students' Perceptions of Laboratory Science Careers: Changing Ideas with an Education Module
AID  - 10.29074/ascls.18.4.226
DP  - 2005 Oct 01
TA  - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
PG  - 226--232
VI  - 18
IP  - 4
4099  - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/18/4/226.short
4100  - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/18/4/226.full
SO  - Clin Lab Sci2005 Oct 01; 18
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a Web-based education module in changing students' perceptions of laboratory science careers.DESIGN: Perception was measured with a short examination and then a Web-based exercise was presented. Following the exercise, the test was administered again. Frequency data from the pre-test and post-test were compared for changes in perception. The correlated pre-test/post-test pairs were also examined for opinion changes and these were analyzed for significance.SETTING: Large parochial high schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. A small team visited the schools during their appointed class times for biology.PARTICIPANTS: Study participants were high school biology students in grades 9–10. Two-hundred-forty-five students participated (149 male and 96 female).INTERVENTIONS: A Web-based exercise on blood film examination was presented to the students in a classroom setting (www.mclno.org/labpartners/index_03.htm). The exercise contained focused messages about: 1) the numbers of healthcare workers acquiring AIDS from on-the-job exposure and 2) common career paths available to the laboratory science workforce.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The shift in perception of: what medical service generates the most diagnostic datawhich professional group performs laboratory teststhe risk of acquiring AIDS while working in the health-care settinginterest in a science-related careerhow much education is required to work in a science-related field RESULTS: The intervention significantly shifted perception in all areas measured except that of interest in a science-related career.CONCLUSIONS: Many students perceive that the risk of acquiring AIDS while working in the healthcare setting is “high”. Web-based presentations and similar partnerships with science teachers can change perceptions that might lead to increased interest in clinical laboratory science careers.ABBREVIATIONS: CCCLW = Coordinating Council on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce; CLS = clinical laboratory scientist; CLT = clinical laboratory technician.