Responses

Overall, 33 responses were received from Radiography training centres from across 13 countries, 14 of the Radiography responders were employed in European centres, namely in Spain and Portugal, whilst the remaining 19 originated from Latin America countries as shown in Figure 1. Of these respondents 25 Radiography institutions responded fully across all survey questions.

Radiography Training Programs

Degree structures varied and eleven centres incorporated ultrasound within undergraduate training, however they predominantly aligned to European norms: Medical Imaging (42%), Radiotherapy (17%) and Nuclear Medicine (21%). The principal areas of Radiography practice offered is summarised in Figure 2.

However, despite many students undertaking degrees that combined diagnostic/therapy/nuclear medicine 50% of respondents stated their students were only fully prepared in Diagnostic Radiography, with lower numbers stating graduate competency in Radiotherapy (n=17%) and Nuclear Medicine (n=21%). Despite this, 70% of participants indicated new graduates could work in a combined role in most countries that offered this learning option however open comments noted that this was not seen as desirable in several countries.

Accreditation

75% of those who responded to the question of professional accreditation identified national accreditation agencies, 17% stated institutional only accreditation, whilst 8% noted international accreditation.

Clinical Skills Labs & Clinical Placements

Encouragingly 75% of those who responded to the question (n=24) related to Clinical Skills Labs stated they had dedicated space for simulated learning. 18 institutions had a skills laboratories, most offering less than 250 hours of clinical skills labs training.

The most common equipment in the clinical skills laboratories included portable radiology equipment (n=7), PACS equipment (n=6), ultrasound machines (n=6), phantoms (n=6) and x-ray (n=5 analogue, n=2 CR and n=3 digital). Clinical Placement requirements were as low as 101-250 hours, with 10 institutions below 1000 hours, while 7 institutions stated 1000-1500 and one centre reported 2000+ hours. Spain had the lowest range of mandatory clinical practice hours ranging from 220-800 hours. South America had a wide range from 300-5000 hours with the lowest being in Paraguay.

Practice tutors & Radiography Lecturers

Practice tutors were found to be employed in a large majority of clinical sites however how they were employed and who funded their roles varied, as summarised in Figure 4.

When asked about the qualifications required to teach only one respondent identified PhD qualification as shown in Figure 5, whilst the majority stated clinical experience was essential however the number of years of clinical varied from 2 to 8 years. In comparison across many European training institutions, exclusive of Spain, PhD study and formal teacher training is fast becoming the normal standard required.

Postgraduate Radiography programs offered

Respondents indicated the postgraduate study offerings currently available in their institution and the area of Radiography Practice taught. The summary of these findings are presented in Figures 6 and 7. There was a lack of postgraduate offerings when compared to European centres (exclusive of Spain). The opportunity to study at Masters and PhD level was much lower in Spain compared to Latin American countries.