Dinesh M L, Mohd Mohd Imran, Shasindrau B R, Jeyaraman Daniel
Department of Medical Imaging, KPJ Healthcare University, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Malays J Med Sci. 2024 Apr;31(2):179-187. doi: 10.21315/mjms2024.31.2.16. Epub 2024 Apr 23.
Acute appendicitis is a global surgical emergency. Radiographic modalities usually identify acute appendicitis, although radiographers' competence is questionable. This study examines how clinical radiographers' education and experience affect their ability to identify acute appendicitis using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (USG) characteristics. The study also aimed to determine which variable strongly influences their knowledge level.
The study surveyed radiographers with a four-part self-administered questionnaire containing demographic information and eight knowledge-based questions about the appearance of acute appendicitis in MRI, CT and USG, separately. Before distribution, the questionnaire was validated and checked the reliability.
Clinical radiographers' knowledge about using MRI to diagnose acute appendicitis was strongly affected by education and experience (η = 0.13 and 0.14; < 0.05), with bachelor's degree holders scoring higher regardless of experience. Radiographers with more than 5 years of experience knew more about CT and USG features to identify acute appendicitis (η = 0.40 and 0.27; < 0.05). Radiographers with a bachelor's degree and greater experience had higher overall knowledge of MRI, CT and USG to diagnose acute appendicitis (η = 0.51 and 0.11; < 0.05). With adjusted = 54% ( [2, 44] = 27.94; < 0.001), education and experience highly predicted the overall knowledge level.
The study found gaps in radiographers' knowledge of the radiographic appearance of acute appendicitis. Clinical radiographers' education level and years of experience substantially affect their knowledge level. In addition, experience is a good predictor than education level for overall knowledge level. Therefore, the study emphasises the importance of continuing education and training for radiographers to diagnose acute appendicitis quickly and accurately.
急性阑尾炎是一种全球范围内的外科急症。尽管放射技师的能力存在疑问，但影像学检查通常能识别急性阑尾炎。本研究探讨临床放射技师的教育背景和经验如何影响他们利用计算机断层扫描（CT）、磁共振成像（MRI）和超声检查（USG）特征识别急性阑尾炎的能力。该研究还旨在确定哪个变量对他们的知识水平有强烈影响。
该研究通过一份包含人口统计学信息以及分别关于MRI、CT和USG中急性阑尾炎表现的八个基于知识的问题的四部分自填式问卷对放射技师进行了调查。在分发之前，对问卷进行了效度验证并检查了信度。
临床放射技师对使用MRI诊断急性阑尾炎的知识受教育背景和经验的强烈影响（η = 0.13和0.14；P < 0.05），无论经验如何，拥有学士学位的人得分更高。有超过5年经验的放射技师对CT和USG识别急性阑尾炎的特征了解更多（η = 0.40和0.27；P < 0.05）。拥有学士学位且经验更丰富的放射技师对MRI、CT和USG诊断急性阑尾炎的总体知识水平更高（η = 0.51和0.11；P < 0.05）。调整后的R² = 54%（F[2, 44] = 27.94；P < 0.001），教育背景和经验高度预测总体知识水平。
该研究发现放射技师在急性阑尾炎影像学表现的知识方面存在差距。临床放射技师的教育水平和工作年限对他们的知识水平有很大影响。此外，对于总体知识水平而言，经验比教育水平是更好的预测指标。因此，该研究强调了对放射技师进行继续教育和培训以快速准确诊断急性阑尾炎的重要性。
