Interventional Radiology Awareness Among Final-Year Medical Students in Riyadh: 5 University-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Interventional Radiology was born in 1964 thanks to the efforts of Charles Dotter. Today, Interventional radiology is an ever-expanding field of medicine that incorporates a wide array of minimally-invasive, image-guided procedures with both diagnostic and therapeutic properties. However, there exists a glaring ambiguity about the role of the Interventional Radiologist. This, in part, is due to the overlap between Interventional radiology and other specialties for procedures and administrative tasks. The confusion that this creates may sway medical students away from the field of Interventional radiology and could directly impact both recruitment of young exciting prospects, and the shortage of Interventional radiology practitioners. There is little to suggest from the medical literature about the knowledge of Interventional radiology among final-year medical students. However, there are a handful of studies, all of which conclude that the majority of final-year students lack even the basic knowledge of Interventional Radiology. Method(s): We will be running a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire at 5 university-based medical schools in the Riyadh region targeting all final-year medical students. 285 potential participants have been recognized. Result(s): Results will be analyzed soon. Conclusion(s): We believe that IR will become a force to reckon with in the near future. The minimally-invasive nature of IR procedures has proven to be a safe alternative to conventional surgery. We feel with this study we can advance IR knowledge amongst pre-graduate medical students and ultimately enhance IR recruitment, especially in the Gulf region.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
11. Mai 2021