Cognitive Learning Styles for Medical Laboratory Scientist

“Learning is an individualized process; different education and background experiences, personality traits, levels of motivation, and numerous other variables affect the way you learn.”

- Linda Wong, Essential Study Skills, Fifth Edition

There are Three Cognitive Learning Styles and these are Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic of which can help you learn more effectively. Discovering one's own learning style is an advantage and may take your learning and studying at school or at work to the next level.

In Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science field and study, the Three Cognitive Learning Styles should be taught, developed and honed from school and further more after college. Jacques Wallach, M.D. of Interpretation of Diagnostic Test, in his Introductory note he stated, "The role of the laboratory in diagnosis and treatment continues to gain importance as newer tests and analytic methods allow diagnoses that were not possible before"; ".....Clinicians depend on laboratory test data" and in it is a crucial part of "patient-physician encounters and often precede the history and physical examination".

At present age, research and special studies in Science and Technology has becoming more challenging and complex and multifaceted. Included in this is the rapid evolution of Medical Laboratory Science field. Almost every year new diseases in human body are being discovered has been increasingly growing, for that reason a newer test and analytical methods has to be developed in order for the diagnostic and treatment technology system to be competent .

Lela Buckingham of Molecular Diagnostics, p.vii "Molecular Technology has implemented into diagnostic testing in a relative short period of time. Programs that educate clinical laboratory professionals have had to incorporate molecular-based diagnostic testing into their curricula just as rapidly despite a lack of formal resources."

In Molecular Oncology laboratory for example, where cancer at a molecular level is being studied and processed, using technique that allow direct detection of genetic alterations, down to single base pair changes requires laboratory skills such as:

• Visual or Observational skill - ability to understand underlying scientific principles, and learn technical and procedural aspects of laboratory testing by visual observations;
• Communication and Auditory skill - capable of effective communication, able to verbalized and take note of technical or general informations including problems or matters of a scientific, technical and/or administrative nature;
• Kinesthetic skill - has the ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment in dealing with the broad scope of procedural and technical problems.

In other words, all three cognitive learning styles is highly important because these learning styles enables you to gain essential laboratory skills in operating laboratory machines, reading specimens in the microscope, communicate in technical and layman’s term about the test and test procedures and handling pre-analytical and post-analytical test.

Laboratory test results are very important in the diagnosis and prognosis of a disease. Data based evidence such as laboratory test request helps the physicians to diagnose and treat the diseases that cause all these other symptoms and properly handle the case and treat the patient’s health problem and illness accurately.  It is important not only the clinical laboratory scientists, technologist, technicians and phlebotomist to carry out, process and deliver diagnostic test procedures but much important is the quality of the test results.

For instance, if a phlebotomist has an excellent skill in blood extraction and properly performed the venipuncture techniques efficiently and a knowledgeable specimen processor in proper labelling, storage and transportation of the specimen, and a medical laboratory scientist who is capable of performing technically demanding tests and able to participate and implement quality control programs, we can be assured of the quality of the laboratory test results.

On the other hand, even though the combination of the Three Cognitive Learning Style is ideal, the is reality, humanity as whole has its limits. The capabilities of human brain has lots of potential but with tired and overworked body because of the stress and work pressure in the laboratory, the biological, chemical ergonomic, and fire hazards and lack of leadership and laboratory management skills can not be completely eliminated thus, can affect the quality assurance and performance but can be minimized through the use of engineering controls (i.e., safety features built into an overall design of equipment and supplies), personal protective equipment, and work practice controls (such as hand washing) and can be dealt with through laboratory organization.

This why to be a qualified and proficient Medical Laboratory Scientist or Technologist it requires a great deal of skills, expertise and in-depth training from point-of-care tests producing immediate answers to highly complexed laboratory test that require sophisticated technology and skilled staff. And these skills can be acquire through practice in Visual learning such as being keen observant in every laboratory protocols and procedures while thinking critically; Auditory learning, having a strong language and oral communication skills and comprehend verbal instructions; and  Kinesthetic learning, being skillful or dexterous in performing clinical laboratory works with an excellent eye-hand body coordination.

“....if you do not have enough time for review classes because you are busy working in the laboratory, worry not, because working in a laboratory and practicing your profession is studying and learning in itself.”

These three Learning Styles is in itself is learning and studying smarter. So when you are working in the Clinical Laboratory and at the same time preparing for an international or overseas certificate or qualifying exam such as ASCP International Medical Laboratory Scientist, AMT, AIMS, HAAD and or Prometrics to better oneself or upgrade your professional career but if you do not have enough time for review classes because you are busy working in the laboratory, worry not, because working in a laboratory and practicing your profession is studying and learning in itself.

Reference:

Essential study skills, Linda Wong - Houghton Mifflin Co. - 2006

Interpretation of diagnostic test, Jacques Wallach - Little Brown and Company - 1996

Molecular diagnostics: fundamentals, methods, & clinical applications, Lela Buckingham-Maribeth Flaws - F.A. Davis - 2007

Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 22nd Edition
Richard McPherson-Matthew Pincus-John Henry - Saunders Elsevier - 2011

Program Commitment, Goals, Competencies & Outcomes
Inova - https://www.inova.org/educaton/mls/program-commitment