Assessment Of The Knowledge, Attitude And Perception Of Radiographers In Unth, Ituku-ozalla Towards Radiography Role Extension

Aim: to assess the knowledge, perception and attitude of radiographers in UNTH towards radiography role extension.

Method: 24 radiographers (88.89%return rate) working in the hospital were studied. The study was structured such that each section of the study is related to specific objectives of the study which are: To obtain more literature or information on the knowledge, perception and attitude of Nigeria radiographers towards radiography role extension and to ascertain the knowledge, attitude and perception of radiographer under study on radiograph role extension.

Result: very good number of the respondent agreed they have good knowledge on what radiography role extension is all about. Most of the respondents also stated that they have fair and poor knowledge on radiographers being allowed to perform some role extension like administration of contrast media and reporting of radiographer films.

Conclusion: most respondents were in favour of radiography role extension through their attitude, perception and knowledge towards it. Standardization and accredited training including education on the media-legal coverage available to them may be needed to ally their concerns and adequately prepare them on this extended roles. Relevant bodies should support radiography role extension for efficient and effective radiology services in the hospital.  

Pages 

CHAPTER TWO 

CHAPTER THREE 

CHAPTER FOUR 

CHAPTER FIVE 

5.0 Discussion, Summary, Conclusion and 

                                    

1. Sex distribution of radiographer 

2. Hierarchy distribution of radiographer 

4. Lave of knowledge of radiographers on Radiographer lore extension 

5. Level of knowledge of respondents on radiographers      

6. Level and knowledge of respondent on radiographer performing mage reporting

7. Attitudes of the respondent on radiography role extension 

8. Perception of radiographers on rad radiography role extension

I. Pie chart for that specific role extension that respondent had participated in 

ii Pie chart of the reason why some radiographs never participated in rad role extension

iii Pie chart  of improve effort made by some radiographers to improve rad role extension 

iv Pie chart of reasons why some radiographers wished to instensiogy their effort towards and role extension 

V Pie chart of the reason why all respondant think that lack of role extansion is affecting health care delivery to patent 

vi Pie chart represented of what is in mind of the respondent about radiographers role extension 

Attitude according to the sixth edition of the oxford Advanced learners dictionary of current English is defined as the way that one think and feel about somebody /something that show how he think and feel4. 

Radiographers have responded to the current changing needs of the service and have extended their scone of practice in recent years to take account of the adversity and complexity of health care. In the last one or two decades, the attitude and scope of practice for radiographers towards role development has moved towards apace Radiographers have sized role document opportunities within the modern health care environment and now undertaken new responsibilities in area of diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy. Most radiography profession regulatory bodies like the society and college of Radiographers, United Kingdom have encouraged and supported radiographers to extension their scope of practice and it is anticipated that the evolving service will continue to in to provide opportunities for further development in the further. 

The attitude of radiographers toward radiography role extension, especially image reporting, is a well documented topic and has led to positive changes within the health care system in the united kingdom6.

According to knolb perception is divided into apprehension and comprehension. He concluded that what is perceived can be transformed into knowledge in two different ways: either by reflection observation (as an introvert process) or as active experimentation (as a more extrovert process)8.

 Developing practice in the perception of most developed countries means that the existing roles most be re-evaluated and present skill fully utilized and further develop. The college and society of radiography role extension and have issued a joint document detailing inter professional roles, importance of delegation9. This their perception towards radiography role development calls for change that demands high level of training, expertise and experience, all of which may provide job satisfaction and increase motivation. They also perceive role development in radiography as an agent of skill mix which will encourage more of a “team approach” within health care practice affording the radiography profession greater respect for medical colleagues.

 Knolb also stated that knowledge is created through transformation of experience8. It is generally known and accepted that role development are new types of activates which were not part of traditional role of radiographer (and perhaps used to be done by others especially radiologist, oncologist or physicists) and that are changing the boundaries of practice. It also known that in medical imaging department, role extension has been impacted upon by the continual development of technology and changes to healthcare delivery, thereby bordering the boundaries of roles required in diagnosis12 

However, the greater contribution to health care provision and increased knowledge and personal development, there comes an increased profession responsibility and legal liability to achieve and maintain acceptable standard of clinical care.

 An issue that must be addressed in relation to attitude, perception and knowledge of radiographers toward role development include: appropriate training and assessment of competence, departmental protocols, allocation of responsibilities, cost effectiveness and performance monitoring.

Across the globe, main areas of role development in radiography profession that demands positive attitude, high knowledge and good perception of radiographer are:

a.In the areas of Gastro-intestinal tract investigation for instance:

i.Radiographers can now be allowed to perform barium studies13

ii.Using ultrasound e.g. general diagnostic ultrasound. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

b.intravenous injection of contrast media in those cases involving IVU, CT, under medicine

c.Reporting of images14 such as skeletal, ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine and mammography

d.Angiography e.g. peripheral angiograms

Meanwhile in Africa at large and Nigeria in particular not much research has been carried to ascertain the knowledge, perception and attitude of radiographers toward role development, and also not very much role development has taken place in radiography profession in the country unlike united kingdom that have improved her health care service delivery through their radiographers’ attitude, knowledge and perception to the introduction of radiography role extension5.

Therefore, lack of research in Nigeria to support good attitude, knowledge and perception or radiographers for extended role in radiography is a deafening silence contrasted by the loud healthcare needs for such roles. This study set outs to ascertain the current knowledge, attitude and perception of radiographer’s towards radiography role extension. It aims to obtain more information or literature support on the knowledge, attitude and perception of radiographer’s under study towards radiography role extension, using questionnaire method of date collection.