Current State of Affairs with Regard to Continuing Medical Education for Technicians in Radiology in Francophone West Africa

Abdoulatif Amadou,Lama Kedigoma Agoda-Koussema,Sonia Bignon Mahussi Gwladys Adjadohoun,Pihou Gbande,Komlanvi E Adjenou,Massaga Dagbe,Lantam Sonhaye

doi:10.4236/ojrad.2021.113009

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the level of continuing medical education (CME) of medical imaging technicians in French-speaking West Africa. Materials and methods: This opinion survey was administered to radiology technicians in French-speaking West Africa from 1st June to 31st October 2020, i.e. over a period of 5 months concerning their level of CME and their need for CME. Results: Out of 100 technicians, 69% were men. The mean age was 40 years, with extremes ranging from age 23 to age 57. The majority of technicians (64%) worked in the public sector and 78% had work experience of less than 11 years. Most technicians were holders of a Bachelor’s degree (73%). The types of CMEs they knew were congresses, seminars, and modular training in 46% of the cases. The most available CMEs were seminars (63%). All technicians agreed on the need for CME and 96% said it had an impact on the delivery of radiology services. Technicians who had received CME at least once represented 61%. For 90% of technicians, the specific CME sought was management in radiology (33.33%) and radiation protection (25.81%). Conclusion: The need for CME is increasingly indisputable to radiology technicians in French-speaking West Africa; however, it remains a luxury for them, due to its scarcity and its high cost.

Highlights

Continuing professional development is a learning process that helps professionals in various fields to acquire new skills during their working life with the aim of returning to or maintaining employment and in order to secure or optimize career paths [1]
Materials and methods: This opinion survey was administered to radiology technicians in French-speaking West Africa from 1st June to 31st October 2020, i.e. over a period of 5 months concerning their level of continuing medical education (CME) and their need for CME
All technicians agreed on the need for CME and 96% said it had an impact on the delivery of radiology services

Summary

Introduction

Continuing professional development is a learning process that helps professionals in various fields to acquire new skills during their working life with the aim of returning to or maintaining employment and in order to secure or optimize career paths [1]. In Africa, few studies have been devoted to CMEs of radiology and medical imaging technicians. A study in Togo on the state of play of continuing education for radiology technicians reported that 90.38% of technicians found initial training insufficient and all technicians affirmed the need for continuing education with a preference for training leading to a diploma [5] Based on this observation, it seemed necessary to us to extend this study to several African countries with the general objective of determining the level of CME of medical imaging technicians in French-speaking West Africa. This study aimed to determine the level of continuing medical education (CME) of medical imaging technicians in French-speaking West Africa. Conclusion: The need for CME is increasingly indisputable to radiology technicians in French-speaking West Africa; it remains a luxury for them, due to its scarcity and its high cost

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