| dc.description.abstract | Background: Radiography is the science of using ionizing and non-ionizing radiations to view gross anatomy of the body for diagnostic purposes . However, The education of radiography in Africa has lagged behind the rest of the globe despite nearly starting at around the same time due to a number of reasons. Clinical rotations are of paramount importance in the learning and the acquisition of key competencies such as knowledge, skill and professional attributes required. However, it has been noted that there may be challenges faced by radiography students during clinical rotation, hinted by research done in other countries.Challenges include, shortage of equipment, staff and delays at radiology departments resulting in the failure to provide an adaptive learning environment. This has resulted into neglect of various modalities and high rate of student attrition and the threat of artificial intelligence may replace imaging technologists and radiologists.
Aim: The study was aimed at Assessing the Challenges Faced by Radiography Students of MAKCHS during Their Clinical Practice
Methodology: cross-sectional study using quantitative techniques involving 37 undergraduate radiography students, sampled with simple random sampling method. It included those who had clinical rotations from any hospital for at least a week. The data from questionnaires was processed and analysed manually with help of calculators, computers and presented in form of tables and graphs. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee at Mmulago Nnational Rreferral Hospital and informed consent was sought from the participants.
Results: 65% of the participants were male. Of the respondents,10% were aged 18 -21 year, 68% were aged 22-25 years, 16% were aged 26 - 30 and the rest were above 30 years. 95% of the participants were Ugandan and 5% Tanzanian. 38% of the respondents were in their second year of study, 40% were in third year and 22% were in fourth year. Challenges identified included lack of protective gear, rude radiographers, inadequacy of time allocated for practice, lack of timetable to follow among others. Solutions included proper supervision by hospital heads to ensure adequate supply of protective gear, imaging machines and increasing pay of radiographers.
Conclusion: The authorities need to institute an internship period for radiography students in Uganda just like other medical courses. This will improve skills of students in the modalities where time allocated during school was inadequate to attain all the skills. | en_US |
