Professional Development Needs in Medical Biochemistry Laboratory Practice in Adamawa State Hospitals

The quality of medical biochemistry laboratory services is highly dependent on the competence and continuing professional development of laboratory scientists. This study investigates the professional development needs of laboratory scientists in biochemistry units of secondary and tertiary hospitals in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. A descriptive needs assessment design was employed, utilising a validated structured questionnaire administered to 120 laboratory scientists across 15 hospitals. The instrument assessed self-reported competence in key biochemistry practice domains including analytical techniques, quality control, result interpretation, and equipment maintenance. Participation in continuing professional development activities, access to training resources, and years of post-qualification experience were also documented. The study identifies domains of greatest perceived deficiency and compares self-assessed competence with supervisory assessments obtained from laboratory managers. Educational background, employment cadre, and training history were explored as predictors of competence gaps. Findings will contribute to the design of targeted continuing professional development programmes for medical laboratory scientists in North East Nigeria and will support advocacy for increased professional training investment in this geopolitical zone. Keywords: professional development, laboratory scientists, medical biochemistry, competence, Adamawa State.