Who is a Radiologist? The Perception in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Incorrect perception of the public regarding the radiologist is a source of growing concern. For radiology to enjoy a prestige commensurate to its output, attract quality students and adequate funding, it is imperative for the public to appreciate who a radiologist is. This paper sought to obtain responses on questions from a medical community. Structured questionnaire administered to a total of 511 respondents from University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital and responses thereof were analyzed. There were a total of 511 respondents of which 280 [54.8%] were doctors, 207 [40.5%] medical students, 13 [2.5%] laboratory scientists, 4 [0.8%] anesthesia technicians, and 7[1.4%] nursing students. Of the 511 respondents, 19 [3.7%] indicated that radiologists are not medical doctors. Twenty one respondents [5.8%] were not aware that doctors undergo any further training to become radiologists. While 93 respondents [18.2%] considered radiology to be just a money making field, 14 [2.7%] thought that radiology is unimportant. Thirty one [6.1%] indicated that radiologists lacked basic medical knowledge and 15 [2.9%] felt that anybody or any physician can practice as a radiologist. Fifty [9.8%] saw no difference between a radiologist and a doctor turned sonographer while 25 felt that radiologists were one and the same as radiographers. Findings in this study appears to reinforce the perturbing perception that the radiology specialty and the role of its practitioners as invaluable players in the health team is not yet fully appreciated by some, even in a medical community.