The Medical students’ knowledge on the use of ionising radiation during medical imaging procedures in Zambia

Purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe the medical students’ knowledge on the use of ionising radiation and its harmful effects during diagnostic imaging procedures in Zambia. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed. A census survey of all final year medical students from the University of Zambia (UNZA) was conducted. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using STATA version 13 and Graph Pad Prism 5. Result: The overall results revealed that medical students had inadequate knowledge of the use of ionising radiation. Furthermore, most of the students revealed that the medical school curriculum was inadequate in equipping them with the necessary knowledge required for them to request diagnostic medical imaging procedures utilizing ionizing radiation. Discussion: The results implied that the knowledge levels of the medical students were insufficient in the use and prescription of imaging procedures. It is suggested that the UNZA medical school curriculum is critically scrutinized and a radiation protection course is included. The inclusion would provide the medical students with the necessary knowledge about ionising radiation in order to prevent unnecessary referrals for diagnostic medical imaging procedures

[1]  Riaan van de Venter.  Bioethics, Human Rights and Health Law: Principles and Practice , 2017 .

[2]  R. Steiner.  Radiation exposure in interventional cardiology , 2014 .

[3]  Michael F Dulin,et al.  Patient Engagement and Informed Decision Making Regarding Medical Imaging , 2014, North Carolina Medical Journal.

[4]  M. Baerlocher,et al.  Perception of Radiation Exposure and Risk among Patients, Medical Students, and Referring Physicians at a Tertiary Care Community Hospital , 2013, Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes.

[5]  R. Gunderman,et al.  Radiation safety and medical education: development and integration of a dedicated educational module into a radiology clerkship, outcomes assessment, and survey of medical students' perceptions. , 2012, Academic radiology.

[6]  A. Ahidjo,et al.  Referring doctors knowledge about radiation doses in patients undergoing common radiological examinations , 2012 .

[7]  A. Yucel,et al.  Physicians’ knowledge about ionizing radiation and radiological imaging techniques: a cross-sectional survey , 2011, Acta Radiologica.

[8]  ماوية خفاجي.  Medical student’s knowledge of ionizing radiation and radiation protection , 2011 .

[9]  N. Müller,et al.  Implementation of a new undergraduate radiology curriculum: experience at the University of British Columbia. , 2007, Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes.