Article

Knowledge levels on applications of radiation in medicine among medical practitioners in Ghana

¹ School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box AE 1, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana
² Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Accra, Ghana
³ National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box KB 369, Accra, Ghana
⁴ Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box LG 80, Accra, Ghana
⁵ GAEC Hospital, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box AE 1, Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana

^* Corresponding author: fhasford@ug.edu.gh

Received: 27 August 2020
Accepted: 10 February 2021

Abstract

The evaluation of medical practitioners’ knowledge levels of radiation and safety is essential for planning diagnostic procedures and treatment in radiation medicine. This study sought to identify levels of knowledge and the predictor variables influencing knowledge of medical practitioners on applications of radiation in medicine in Ghana. Online survey was conducted with Google Form consisting of 37-point questionnaire highlighting on physicians’ background information, professional experience, knowledge on radiation usage in medicine, radiation protection and safety. Evaluation of the data was performed by descriptive analysis using frequency distributions and percentages. Among 152 respondents who participated in the study, specialists and consultants made up a higher representation of 46.7%. Two-thirds (64.0%) of the respondents who had received refresher training in the application of radiation in medicine exhibited full knowledge in the field. Medical practitioners who had practiced between 21–25 years were also found to demonstrate full knowledge of the application of radiation in medicine, while 36.6% of those who had practiced for < 6 years demonstrated extensive knowledge. Majority of the medical practitioners, constituting 39.5%, exhibited full knowledge in medical radiation protection and safety. This level of knowledge was found higher than what was demonstrated for general and occupational radiation protection. With medical imaging forming a key component in the diagnosis of several medical conditions, education in the field of radiation usage and radiological protection and safety should be a subject of periodic training for medical practitioners regardless of their level of training or duration of practice