Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiography education in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria

COVID-19 pandemic shutdown of tertiary institutions in Nigeria and globally following the lockdown of socio-economic activities. There is paucity of data on the effects of the pandemic on Radiography education in Nigerian universities especially in Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Nnewi campus. This prospective cross - sectional study was carried out using a structured questionnaire. One hundred and twenty- five questionnaires were distributed by the researcher to students, academic and non-academic staff of the department of Radiography, NAU, and one hundred was retrieved thereafter. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 at 5% level of significance. The major effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Radiography education in NAU were poor access to education financing (97%), poor attendance to lectures (91%), poor academic performance after the lockdown (85%), better attitude to infection control (81%), disruption of academic calendar (88%), the rushing of many lectures over a short time and low assimilation/understanding among students (75%), the predominance of physical classroom lectures especially among undergraduates (55%), promoted online lectures especially among postgraduate students (45%), better hygiene culture (35%, 0.00076 = p < 0.05, adjusted α = 0.0032) ) and loss of interest in education (27.5%). However, only the enthronement of better hygiene culture had significant effects on Radiography education (p = 0.00076). The study concludes that the only significant and positive effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Radiography education in NAU was the enthronement of better hygiene culture.

International Radiographers in Danger: A Letter to the Editor

I have published a case study about how British universities −who offer radiographic reporting programs for radiographers− put admission conditions and tuitions on radiographers in three categories which are; British citizens, European citizens, and internationals [1]. I compared the three categories by collecting the data from the universities’ websites directly. The case study has a simple methodology which is clearly explained in the paper [1]. The case study showed that there is no English language requirements for Europeans due to the Bologna Agreement in June 19, 1999 and the Copenhagen Declaration in November 2002. The English language is not the mother tongue of any European country besides the UK. The tuitions for international students are very high compared to the UK/European citizens where they (UK/European) have the same low tuition. In addition, the international students can’t join approved programs from the HCPC, while UK/European citizens can join HCPC approved programs. The interpretation modules are not allowed for international students and they are allowed for UK/ European students. Training, ability to have the HCPC registration, and the ability to work all are allowed for UK/European citizens, while international students are not allowed to do so. After I published this case study which shows the facts in solid data that there is segregation on all levels and discrimination against international Radiographers, the Society and College of Radiographers and the Head of Radiography Education sent two letters threatening the journals Editors and I [2,3]. They said they are so perfect and they do not have any discrimination whatsoever [2,3]. They demanded to remove the paper from the online source and publish an apology [2,3]. They threaten and bullied me and the journal editors that they will legally be suing us for defamation. Therefore, I publish this letter challenging them to sue me. What I have published is accurate 100% and I did not make the numbers from my head. I collected the data from the universities’ websites directly. All that they claimed in their letters are wrong and emotionally driven. They did not stop here, no they continued by sending their trolls to report my researchgate account to suspend my account for more than one month. Is well known that the HCPC and the British media when someone is not British get suspended or not allowed to do any medical practice in the UK for any issue, the British media and HCPC publish their names, age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and what mistake they did, but when the person is a white British citizen, the HCPC and the media tend to hide their identity and usually they get suspended for a short period of time. The HCPC, Society of Radiographers, and Heads of Radiography Education are discriminating on all levels against us as international radiographers and this is supported by numbers and solid data. They claim that they are so perfect and do not have any issue. This level of denial indicates that there is a massive issue and this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Society of Radiographers did not help the UK or international Radiographers in any way, shape, or form. Instead of denying their discriminatory behaviors against us, they should help the international Radiographers to rebuild their health care sector which collapsed after the pandemic (i.e. SARS II CoV a.k.a Covid-19). They have already a large shortage of Radiographers in the UK and with these behaviors, they will never solve the problems which the British citizens face every day in UK hospitals. No one should forget the number of international health care workers who sacrificed their lives during the pandemic to help the patients in the UK.

Research on simulation in radiography education: a scoping review protocol

Background Today, there are fewer opportunities for health care students and staff for skills training through direct patient contact. The World Health Organization therefore recommends learning about patient safety through hands-on experience and simulation. Simulation has the potential to improve skills through training in a controlled environment, and simulation has a positive effect on knowledge and skills, and even patient-related outcomes. Reviews addressing the use of simulation across the different radiography specialties are lacking. Further knowledge on simulation in radiography education is needed to inform curriculum design and future research. The purpose of this scoping review is to explore, map, and summarize the extent, range, and nature of published research on simulation in radiography education. Methods We will follow the methodological framework for scoping reviews originally described by Arksey and O’Malley. We will search the MEDLINE, Embase, Epistemonikos, The Cochrane Library, ERIC, Scopus, and sources of grey literature. A comprehensive search strategy for Ovid MEDLINE was developed in collaboration with a research librarian. An example of a full electronic search from the Ovid MEDLINE (1641 articles records, January 9, 2020) is provided and will be used to adapt the search strategy to each database. Two independent review authors will screen all abstracts and titles, and full-text publications during a second stage. Next, they will extract data from each included study using a data extraction form informed by the aim of the study. A narrative account of all studies included will be presented. We will present a simple numerical analysis related to the extent, nature, and distribution of studies, and we will use content analysis to map the different simulation interventions and learning design elements reported. Any type of simulation intervention within all types of radiography specializations will be included. Our search strategy is not limited by language or date of publication. Discussion An overview of publications on simulation in radiography education across all radiography specialties will help to inform future research and will be useful for stakeholders within radiography education using simulation, both in the academic and clinical settings. Systematic review registration Open Science Framework (OSF). Submitted on October 18, 2020