Factors Inhibiting Clinical Laboratory Science Directors’ Using Distance Technology for Educational Purposes

Problem: Workforce shortages in the diagnostic fields of health care prompted conducting a study about possible barriers or influences about using distance education for didactic delivery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. A population of 467 program directors was identified. Four hundred-sixty email addresses were functional. A convenience sample of 167 responded to an online survey about perceived barriers to using distance education for program delivery.

Results: Program directors responded about perceived barriers to using online, distance education as part of educational delivery for academic programming. Concerns included lack of quality of coursework, and students; along with lack of adequate equipment for offering distance education teaching, faculty workloads and lack of release time.

Conclusion: While distance education is a viable solution for offering diagnostic, didactic program content, perceived and real barriers to its use are impacting workforce development, especially in rural, health care and educational deserts.