Awareness and knowledge of the practice of therapy radiographers among radiography students - A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Cancer is a public health problem affecting all categories of people worldwide and radiation therapy is often the mainstay of management. A successful radiotherapy treatment requires well-skilled professionals such as radiation oncologist, therapy radiographers, and medical physicist. Radiography is an indispensable heart of modern medicine, in the diagnosis and management of diseases. This study was conducted to determine the level of awareness and knowledge of the practice of therapy radiographers among radiography students. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among radiography students in College of Medicine, University of Lagos over a period of 3 months. Results: Majority of the respondents (44.9%) were within the age range of 21–25 years. Majority of the respondents (91.7%) had not had clinical posting on radiotherapy. A few students, 33 (21.2%) had encountered a therapy radiographer during clinical posting. Majority of the respondents (89.7%) had never heard about a therapy radiographer. A minority (19.2%) of the respondents indicated that they would like to be therapy radiographers. Majority of the respondents (44.2%) had no interest because think they do not make good money (9.6%), because they did not know what it entailed (lacked knowledge) (16.0%), and because of the perceived high risk of radiation dose (25.6%). Conclusion: This study revealed that radiography majority of radiography students are not aware nor have the knowledge of the practice of therapy radiographers. There is also a lack of interest in these students in becoming therapy radiographers.