Purpose
The recent change in the undergraduate courses of Nuclear Medicine, Radiography and Radiotherapy resulted in the creation of a single course named Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy (MIR).
The purpose of this amendment was the need of an international recognition in order to facilitate students / professionals mobility within the European Union(1). However, there are contradictory opinions that refer to this change as a less scientific specialization of the professionals.
Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the expectations of undergraduate radiography students about...
Methods and materials
This study was carried out using a self-applied questionnaire to evaluate the student’s perceptions regarding the skills enhancement in the undergraduate course in MIR (2, 3).
The final sample was composed by a total of 83 radiography students from two different universities.
The questions were directed to the sociodemographic data, reasons for choosing the MIR course, the enhancement of skills and the importance of the training process.
Data were interpreted and analyzed through descriptive statistics, and correlation tests were performed to evaluate the relationship between...
Results
The main motivations to choose the MIR degree (Fig. 1) was “Healthcare related area, enabling greater interaction with patients” (38,8%).
Most of the students present a moderated level of satisfaction (55,4%). 18,1% are not satisfied and 26,5% presented a positive response about the new MIR course (Fig. 2). They also reported that the expectations after the frequency in the course slightly coincide with the beginning.
The main reasons to be unsatisfied chosen by the majority of students were “lack of professional opportunities in Portugal” and...
Conclusion
The students of the first-year degree have high expectations concerning the new degree and the students who are in transition phase have lower expectations due to less expertise and knowledge in the three different areas (Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy).
In the student’s perspective, the new undergraduate course will reduce the student’s skills, knowledge and competences after their graduation.
Personal information and conflict of interest
A. F. Abrantes; Faro/PT - nothing to disclose J. P. Arrais; Vila Nova S. Bento/PT - nothing to disclose L. P. V. Ribeiro; Parchal/PT - nothing to disclose S. Rodrigues; Faro/PT - nothing to disclose R. P. P. Almeida; Faro/PT - nothing to disclose K. B. Azevedo; Faro, EU/PT - nothing to disclose B. Vicente; Olhão/PT - nothing to disclose
António Abrantes (PhD), Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department, Health School - University of Algarve, Portugal. Researcher in CICS.NOVA (Interdisciplinary Centre of Social...
References
1. A3ES (2013). 1º Relatório sobre propostas de agregação/ fusão de 1.ºs ciclos de estudos. Consulted on https://www.a3es.pt/sites/default/files/1o_Relatório_GT-TR-TDT_Dez_2013_FINAL_completo_0.pdf
2. Tavares, F., Abrantes, A. F., Ribeiro, L. P., Almeida, R. P. P ., Pinheiro, J. P., Azevedo, K., & Rodrigues, S.(2016, March). Radiographer’s expectations for role development: a survey in the perspective of Norwegian radiography students [Book of Abstracts]. In Radiographers’ education: the curriculum, Scientific Session 214, Radiographer’s. Insights into Imaging, 7 (Suppl 1), S195. Vienna, Austria: Springer. ISSN: 1869-4101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13244-016-0475-8
3. Mendes, C. M., Abrantes,...