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Published in: Insights into Imaging 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Ionizing Radiation | Original Article

Assessing diagnostic radiology knowledge among Syrian medical undergraduates

Authors: Mhd Obai Alchallah, Hlma Ismail, Tala Dia, Mosa Shibani, Mhd Amin Alzabibi, Fatema Mohsen, Khaled Turkmani, Bisher Sawaf

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The role of radiology in medicine and healthcare is rapidly expanding worldwide, but awareness about this field among medical students is poor. This is the first study to assess Syrian medical students’ knowledge and attitude regarding radiology.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Syrian Private University, on November 8, 2019, on the International Day of Radiology during the war crisis. Data were collected through self-administered surveys and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 269 students whose ages ranged between 17 and 30 years old. Males constituted 63.6% of the respondents. The results revealed adequate knowledge about the basics of radiology. 73.6% of the students had previously heard about interventional radiology. There were slight misconceptions with certain points in each section, especially those pertaining to the radiation exposure of each imaging method. Finally, the students expressed low interest in radiology as a future career (24.5%).

Conclusions

The level of awareness can affect a student’s decision in considering radiology as a future career. Further evaluation of the methods of teaching, input from medical boards, curriculum advisors, and guidance from radiologists is required.
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Metadata
Title
Assessing diagnostic radiology knowledge among Syrian medical undergraduates
Authors
Mhd Obai Alchallah
Hlma Ismail
Tala Dia
Mosa Shibani
Mhd Amin Alzabibi
Fatema Mohsen
Khaled Turkmani
Bisher Sawaf
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Insights into Imaging / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-020-00937-9

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