title: Assessment of knowledge of participants on basic molecular biology techniques after 5-day intensive molecular biology training workshops in Nigeria.
abstract: The deployment of molecular biology techniques for diagnosis and research in Nigeria is faced with a number of challenges, including the cost of equipment and reagents coupled with the dearth of personnel skilled in the procedures and handling of equipment. Short molecular biology training workshops were conducted at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), to improve the knowledge and skills of laboratory personnel and academics in health, research, and educational facilities. Five-day molecular biology workshops were conducted annually between 2011 and 2014, with participants drawn from health, research facilities, and the academia. The courses consisted of theoretical and practical sessions. The impact of the workshops on knowledge and skill acquisition was evaluated by pre- and post-tests which consisted of 25 multiple choice and other questions. Sixty-five participants took part in the workshops. The mean knowledge of molecular biology as evaluated by the pre- and post-test assessments were 8.4 (95% CI 7.6-9.1) and 13.0 (95 CI 11.9-14.1), respectively. The mean post-test score was significantly greater than the mean pre-test score (p < 0.0001). The five-day molecular biology workshop significantly increased the knowledge and skills of participants in molecular biology techniques. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(4):313-317, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Yisau
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Adagbada
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bamidele
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fowora
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B I C
authors.initials: BIC
authors.lastname: Brai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adebesin
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bamidele
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fesobi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Nwaokorie
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D004493:Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D009549:Nigeria; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Molecular biology; assessment; techniques; training