Radiography Profession: Regulation, Practice and Challenges in Northern Nigeria

Objective: To determine the impact of regulatory body of the Radiography profession, ascertain the major challenges, its causes and suggesting ways to mitigate them in northern Nigeria.Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Radiographers in Northern Nigeria with practice experience of 10 years+, for a period of 3 months (January-March 2015). A semi structured 18-item questionnaire was used to elicit data concerning demography, regulation, major challenges, and suggestionsto mitigate these challenges. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and descriptive statistics were used in the analyses.Results: A total of seventy (70) questionnaires were distributed and 66 (93%) were returned. There were 42(63.6%) male respondents and 24 (36.4%) female respondents with ages ranging from 30 to above 60 years. A good number of the respondents (42) had B.Sc. degree as highest qualification; representing 63.6%while those with Masters degree and above made the remaining 13.6%, numbering 9. About 27 (40.9%) rated the efforts of the regulatory body as good. The major challenges noted were: few Universities offering Radiography at undergraduate and post graduate level, low level of manpower, limited scope of practice, frequent equipment breakdown and inactive professional body. Possible causes suggested included poor recognition of the profession, systemic failure, lack of unity in the Radiology unit. The recommendations made to overcome these include; an active and strong regulatory body visible in all the geopolitical zones and states, provision of scholarship schemes, unionism, and improvement towards education and training.Conclusion: Persistent challenges confront the radiography profession. Radiographers are aware of these challenges and possible causes. There is need for the professional body (RRBN) to improve on its regulatory duties to mitigate the persistent challenges in radiography profession in Nigeri

Mentorship in Radiography: an Indispensable Tool for Sustainable Healthcare Transformation

  Background: The concept of mentorship has gained widespread popularity in literature across different walks of life owing to the significant benefits attached to it. Purpose: This paper intends to discuss the need for mentorship in radiography, as an indispensable tool for a sustainable healthcare transformation, taking clues from other health science disciplines and medicine. Method: Authors reviewed relevant literature on the subject to have an in-depth and updated knowledge both in the health sciences as well as in other disciplines. Search engines such as Google Scholar, My Websearch, and data base such as Science Direct, Hinari, Taylor and Francis and Medknow were consulted. Several articles that discussed mentorship across various disciplines were reviewed. Those with ideas and concepts that fit into the purpose of the study were included. Results: Several definitions and types of mentorship exist across different walks of life based on literature. However, we decided to adopt the definition of mentorship and types of mentorship by Feldman, who defined mentorship as a dynamic, reciprocal relationship in a work environment between an advanced career incumbent and a beginner, aimed at promoting the development of both. The uniform agreement across various disciplines is that mentoring is a crucial component of success. However, its application in radiography is inadequate. Conclusion: In view of the apparent benefits accruable to mentorship globally, stakeholders in radiography should make mentorship a priority, if we must maintain our role in a sustainable healthcare transformation.             &nbsp

Audit of Referral Pattern of Cancer Cases to the Radiotherapy and Oncology Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Objectives: This study assessed the types of cancer cases referred to Radiotherapy and oncology unit of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria, and determine the age, sex, and geopolitical zones distributions of cancer cases in ABUTH, Zaria.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted reviewing all cancer cases referred to the centre, for a period of 10 years (2004 – 2013). Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the hospital. Data capture sheet was used to collect information from the patient’s folder and this was analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 20.0Results: Three thousand nine hundred and thirty four (3934) patient’s records were reviewed. Patient’s age ranged from 0 -110 years, with a mean age of 42.4 years. Patients within the age range of 31 to 60 years had the highest cancer incidence. A total of 37 types of cancer were diagnosed with cervical cancer having the highest incidence of 1083 (27.5%). This was followed by head and neck 821 (20.9%). Intestinal cancer had the least incidence of 1 (0.02%). Female cancer cases predominated with a female to male ratio of 1.8:1. North-western Nigeria had the highest cancer incidence of 1656 (42.1%). Conclusion: This study found high incidence of cancer cases among adults age ranged 31 to 60 years with female to male ratio of 1.8:1. Cervical cancer had the highest incidence among the 37 cancer spectrum treated at the centre. The North-western Nigeria had the highest incidence of cancer cases

The race towards the universal health coverage and factors influencing radiographers' career choice in rural settlements in North-Eastern Nigeria

Background: There is a human resource crisis in the healthcare sector in Nigeria. This is because of the existing inequitable distribution of the available meagre workforce which is itself not helped by the increasing and currently trending brain drain.Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the factors that influence radiographers' choice of career in rural settlements in Northeastern Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Radiographers in Northeastern Nigeria. A 21-item, self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was distributed over a six (6) month period, where 130 questionnaires were distributed. The questionnaire consisted of two sections; a: on demography; b: on factors (attractors and detractors) for career choice in rural areas. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data; descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 was used.Results: A total of 91 questionnaires were retrieved, giving a response rate of 70%. There were 56 (61.5%) males and 35 (38.5%) females. About 82 (90.1 %) had B.Sc and 9 (9.9 %) had M.Sc as their highest qualification. The major attractors for accepting rural jobs were improved remuneration 97 (86.8%) and opportunity for continuous professional development 72 (79.1%). While major detractors were, the cultural and traditional beliefs of the people in rural areas 23 (25.3%) and the lack of social amenities/poor infrastructure 22 (24.2%).Conclusion: The attractors for radiographers to rural areas in this study were; improved remuneration, availability of equipment, professional development, availability of social amenities and security among others. To recruit and retain radiographers in the rural areas, government, recruitment agencies and employers should in addition to good remuneration motivate the radiographers by providing adequate power, security, rural posting allowances, good functional equipment and working and learning environment

A Survey of Structural Design of Diagnostic X-ray Imaging Facilities and Compliance to Shielding Design Goals in a Limited Resource Setting

Purpose: To survey structural designs of x-ray rooms and compliance to shielding design goals of three x-ray imaging facilities. Methods and Materials: The survey was conducted in three radiodiagnostic centers in South East Nigeria, labeled X, Y and Z for anonymity. A stretchable non-elastic meter rule was used to measure x-ray room dimensions. A Vernier caliper was used to measure lead thickness while a calibrated digital survey meter Radalert 100x was used for radiation survey of controlled and uncontrolled areas. Simple statistical tools such as mean and standard deviation were used for analysis with the aid of Microsoft Excel version 2007. Results: Center X had a room dimension of 2.4 m × 2.1 m, Center Y had an x-ray room dimension of 3.6 m × 3.3 m, and Center Z had two x-ray rooms with identical dimensions of 6.3 m × 3.6 m. Measured exit radiation doses for controlled areas in all the centers were: 0.00152 mSv/wk; 0.00496 mSv/wk; 0.00168 mSv/wk; 0.00224 mSv/wk respectively. Lead was the common shielding material used. Conclusion: Based on the parameters studied, Center Z had the ideal room size and layout. Relative distances from the x-ray tubes to the nearest walls were not optimized in all the centers except in Center Z. Measured exit doses were within recommended limits except in Center Y. The location of the control consoles and measured doses were appropriate and within recommended design goals