Abstract

Background:  Due to the significant increase in the number and type of surgical operations, it seems necessary to increase the clinical competence of the operating room technologist. The aim of this study was to determine operating room technologists' clinical competence in educational care hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences in the year is 2017. Methods and Materials:  In this cross sectional study, we analyzed clinical competency of 180 operating room technologists working in hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences by self-assessment method. The instrument for data collection was a valid and reliable questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using Kruskal-Wallis and U-Mann-Whitney Nonparametric tests and SPSS V.22. Results: The operating room technologists reported their overall level of competence as “good”. They felt more competent in the categories of “general knowledge” and” Assessment, diagnosis and care of the surgical patient” (with maximum score of 78.4) and least competent in” Legal ethical performance” categories (with minimum score of 15.75). There was a meaningful relationship between clinical competence and work experience, educational level, Specialty field, age, responsibility, occupational relationship (P<. /001). Conclusion: The finding showed that clinical competence is based on self-assessment in the categories of” Legal ethical performance” and “Progress in research and professionalism” was weak. Since the courses for retraining and educational opportunities for technologists are limited in the operating room, the need for more interaction between the operating room and other departments and the provision of retraining courses to be seen.