Important skills for biomedical services: The perspectives of Malaysian employers and employees.
BACKGROUND
Increase in the occurrence of existing diseases, continual emergence of new or exotic diseases and re-emergence of old diseases have placed increasing demands on biomedical services in Malaysia. Biomedical technicians play an important role in operating biomedical instruments. However, there are no clear specifications about characteristics and traits for these semi-professional employees. Employers in a few studies claimed that biomedical graduates are not ready to enter and face challenges in the job market.


OBJECTIVE
Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify technical and generic skills for a biomedical technician from the perspectives of the biomedical technicians and their employers.


METHODS
A quantitative survey design was employed whereby data were obtained through the administration of an instrument developed by the researchers. The sample consisted of 20 hospital managers and 186 biomedical technicians who are currently working in Malaysian government hospitals.


RESULTS
The findings show that there are no difference in the perceptions of hospital managers and biomedical technicians regarding technical and non-technical skills.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings resulted in a checklist which can be used for institutions to produce future biomedical technician graduates in order to meet job demands. However, future research is needed to validate the findings and explore the variables in depth.
Department of Technical and Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai Johor, Malaysia.
Yahya
Y
Buntat
Department of Technical and Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai Johor, Malaysia.
Muhammad Sukri
MS
Saud
Department of Educational Foundation and Social Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai Johor, Malaysia.
Mahani
M
Mokhtar
Department of Technical and Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai Johor, Malaysia.
Yusri
Y
Kamin
Department of Technical and Engineering Education, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai Johor, Malaysia.
Lim Set
LS
Feh
D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D007858:Learning; D008283:Maintenance; D008296:Malaysia; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000592:standards*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011361:Professional Competence; D000068616:Professionalism
Technical skills; biomedical education employer; employee; generic skills