The perceptions and willingness of radiographers to extend their roles and become reporting radiographers in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increase in the need for diagnostic imaging services globally, which is faster than the capacity of radiologists. The current workforce model is not sustainable due to the predicted aging of the population and the contraction of the healthcare workforce. By extending the role of radiographers to a specific range of radiological reporting tasks. It may be possible to meet demand and relieve some pressure on radiologists and increase radiographer satisfaction and retention. The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions, and willingness of the Abu Dhabi radiographers to extend their role as reporting radiographers in skeleton radiography. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among radiographers in the UAE. The on-line questionnaire was designed to obtain demographic information about radiographers, their qualifications, their professional experience, their postgraduate training, their plans for professional development, as well as their interest in future career opportunities related to extended roles. RESULTS: This study had a response rate of 50% (n = 60). The government sector accounted for 75.3% of the survey's participants, while the private sector accounted for 24.7%. The main gains for role advancement were identified by 58.3% of the participants who were confident to start interpreting the upper and lower extremities in the emergency room (ER), and 86.3% were willing to be reporting radiographers. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the Abu Dhabi radiographers are willing to extend their role in the interpretation of general X-ray images of skeletons. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Curriculum development in radiography and medical imaging education jointly with licensing health authority bodies is required to plan for the new radiographer reporting role.

Medical Radiation Safety and COVID-19 Knowledge and Awareness among UAE Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Radiologic examinations are valuable tools in the evaluation of COVID-19. A patient-centered care approach encourages patient involvement in decision-making related to their health management. Therefore, patients should have basic knowledge about their disease and its evaluation tools. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the public level of knowledge and awareness regarding COVID-19 and radiation safety in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using an online questionnaire (Google platform). The data collection instrument contained close-ended questions in both Arabic and English. The questions aimed to collect demographic information and to measure the level of knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 and radiation safety. The questionnaire was distributed online using different social media platforms. Results: A total of 1548 participants have completed the questionnaire; 84% were females and 16% were males. The participants' average age was 24 years. Sixty-eight percent of the participants showed a high level of awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, while most of the participants (51%) only showed a low level in the radiation safety awareness section. Factors such as Emirates of residence and passively receiving awareness information were shown to predict knowledge and awareness level. Conclusions: The UAE public was found to have a high level of knowledge and awareness about the COVID-19 disease. However, the same could not be said about radiation safety. More effort should be put towards raising the public's knowledge and awareness about the risk of radiation in order to enable them to participate actively in decisions regarding the radiologic management of their disease.

Students' perspective on the online delivery of radiography & medical imaging program during COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes to academic program delivery worldwide. Face to face (traditional teaching) lectures were replaced with online, recorded, or live sessions; however, online systems are not an efficient substitute for clinical or laboratory courses. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the imaging student's perspective on COVID-19 awareness to ensure they are prepared for clinical training and laboratory education, and to evaluate the teaching quality of the online radiography program delivery. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with radiography and medical imaging students of two female campuses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Knowledge and awareness level of COVID-19, such as symptoms and diagnostic tests, were evaluated using multiple choice questions. The Likert scale (1-5) was used to evaluate the teaching quality of the online learning of radiography, such as critical thinking and communication skills. Open-ended questions were included for students to provide comments and feedback. RESULTS: Out of 305 female students, 212 participants (71%) responded and were included in the study. The average age was 20 years, and respondents were from different study levels (year 1-year 5), with 47% and 53% of the participants from Al Ain campus and Abu Dhabi campus, respectively. Seventy percent of the respondents reported a Bachelor degree, while 30% were higher Diploma participants. The overall COVID-19 awareness level mean score was acceptable (70%). Senior students with a Bachelor degree and clinical experience scored higher than other students (72% vs. 65%, P<0.05). The mode value of the Likert scale for the teaching factors assessment (1-5) for most of the respondents showed average (mode=3) response value. However, the mode for the stress factor was high (mode=5). The overall online radiography teaching satisfaction for the teaching quality factors was less than 50%. However, more than half of the respondents (52%) recommended delivering the radiography program using the online learning system. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 imposed several challenges to the educational systems worldwide, requiring implementation of effective strategies to improve the current online teaching. Effective communication between instructors and students, engaging students with case studies discussion, and encouraging students to think critically and to be creative are important strategies. CONCLUSION: Online delivery of the radiography and medical imaging program imposes challenges for laboratory and clinical courses. It is recommended that academic institutions implement state of art technology to bridge the gap between traditional and online learning methods during the pandemic. Students are suggested to be mentally prepared to accept the shifting of the teaching mode to relieve stress and gain knowledge and practical skills more efficiently.