Yahya Buntat

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.

Technological innovation in herbs planting at a planting research institute in Malaysia

This study seeks to explore the method of herbs planting using technological innovation by a forest research institute in Malaysia from two dimensions namely knowledge and process of learning. This study also intends to explore the advantages and disadvantages of tissue culture. In order to achieve this goal, empirical evidence for the study was derived from a field visit at a research institute in Malaysia. The main findings from the study showed a clear definition, methods and process of tissue culture and its advanced technology using RITA System and Bioreactor Technology in herbs planting.

Development of sustainable agriculture subjects in secondary academic schools: A Comfirmatory factor analysis (CFA) approach

The aim of this paper is to discuss the development of a valid and reliable measurement of sustainable agriculture subjects for secondary academic school. The elements of the instrument were developed using the four rounds of Delphi technique that finally end up with 20 indicators. The five-point scale of 139 items were then derived and validated. This instrument was administered to 312 agriculture subject teachers from all over Peninsular Malaysia which were randomly selected. AMOS software version 16 was used to analyze the data. The value of Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) were used to maintain or drop the items. The findings of the study using confirmatory factor analysis measurement model featured 48 items as valid and reliable items to measure 13 indicators of sustainable agriculture subjects after dropping 91 items. This instrument can be used to obtain the status of sustainability of the agriculture subjects in daily secondary academic schools in Malaysia.