Abstracts For The 1st International Borneo Healthcare And Public Health Conference And 4th Borneo Tropical Medicine And Infectious Disease Congress. Held at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia On 3rd-5th September 2019
Introduction: Laboratory screening tests are common elements of health care. Comprehensive care of patients is dependent on the results of laboratory investigations. Dissemination of knowledge and improving attitude of com-munity for utilization of laboratory services are utmost important in community health care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and utilization of the laboratory services among the employees of University Malaysia Sabah, determine their expectations of employees on the medical laboratory services.
Methods: A total of 200 UMS staff participated. The data were collected using a cross-sectional self-administered questionnaires and descriptive data analysis was done.
Results: 5% of the participants in this study agreed to have the health check and blood screening tests every year. Less than 10% of respondents agreed to do more frequent blood tests check if they are at high risk such as family history of cancer, hypertension and diabetes 181 out of 200 respondents do not agree that doing laboratory tests can help for early diagnosis of some diseases. The most used laboratory tests were plasma sugar (70.8%), blood grouping (60.4%), urine examination (50%) and serum lipid (46%).
Conclusion: Based on the results, recommendations were made to improve the knowledge, attitude and utilization of the laboratory services and set up laboratory services easily accessible by the university community. This will lead to positive health benefits in people and improve associated health outcomes.