Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: February | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 29-36
Challenges Faced by Undergraduate Radiography Students in Sokoto Northwest Nigeria, During Long Vacation Clinical Posting
Akpaniwo G.M1, Sadiq A.A1, Danfulani M2, Abubakar U1, Mohammed A1, Iliyasu Y.I1, Shehu O.P1
1Department of Radiography, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS).
2Department of Radiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto (UDUTH)
Corresponding Author: Akpaniwo G.M
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Long vacation posting for clinical training and experience forms a major requirement in radiography education in Nigeria and for the award of Bachelor’s degree at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The competence level of a qualified radiography student is ensured by the effectiveness and quality of the clinical training obtained during the teaching-learning process. Therefore identifying the challenges of Radiography students in the clinical learning environment during long vacation posting is imperative to improving the quality of the training.
Aim: Is to highlight major challenges faced by students undergoing undergraduate radiography study during their long vacation clinical posting.
Materials and Methods: A prospective study employing a descriptive survey approach was conducted, targeting 300 and 400 level undergraduate radiography students in the clinical year, 2016/2017 academic session at the Radiography department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. A 14-item self-completion questionnaire consisting of four sections, designed in line with the aim of the study, was used for data collection.
Result: After data analysis, the study identified the following challenges faced by the students and these included lack of allocation of the students to ward or theatre rooms (84%), and Dental imaging rooms (88%). The allotted time to each of the imaging modality rooms such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasound had (26%), (24%) and (38%) respectively, before they were rotated and this was grossly inadequate and only a few had hands-on in the radiographic examination of the mandible (4%), or had witness mammographic examination (6%), absence or inadequate number(s) of qualified radiographers, lack of Knowledge update (Seminars/presentations), and distance from accommodation to the hospital had a distribution of 10(20%), 22(44%) and 24(48%) respectively.
Conclusion: The research revealed, that majority (68%) of the students were of the opinion that long vacation clinical posting was very educating regardless of the challenges faced. These challenges include, inadequate allocation of students to different wards (ward radiography), inadequate time allotted to some of the imaging modality rooms, absence or inadequate qualified radiographers, lack of Knowledge update (Seminars/presentations), and distanced to accommodation.
Key words: Radiography, Clinical posting & training, Challenges, Skills development, Education.