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. 2022 Nov;28(4):933-942.
doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2022.06.003. Epub 2022 Jun 16.

The impact of COVID-19 upon student radiographers and clinical training in Latin America

S M Solís-Barquero  1 , M P Rodríguez Valerio  2 , J P McNulty  3 , P F Riquelme Contreras  4 , J Ríos  5 , H González  6 , N B Olmedo Raza  7 , V H Ezquerra  8 , L A Rainford  3
Affiliations

The impact of COVID-19 upon student radiographers and clinical training in Latin America

S M Solís-Barquero et al. Radiography (Lond). 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon radiography education across Latin American countries.

Methods: A survey containing 20 questions was circulated to radiography students, across 13 universities in 11 countries of Latin America using Google Forms. The survey contained open and closed questions. Answers were analysed with descriptive statistics and the methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis for the open answers.

Results: Of the 1310 responses only 23.9% (n = 313) of students reported attending clinical placements and from this cohort only 8.9% (n = 28) became infected with COVID-19. In response to how the pandemic had impacted upon the students' academic progression, the most common topic in the open answers was "Concerns about the lack of clinical training", mentioned by 629 students. Students in middle and later years of their radiography education expressed the greatest concern about future clinical placements. Almost all radiography students (95.2%/n = 1247) indicated that their main concerns regarding COVID-19 infection while undertaking clinical placements was in relation to the risk of infecting their families as most students stated they cohabited with relatives (86.6%/n = 1134).

Conclusion: Compared to European findings co-habitation trends increased anxiety related to infection and impacted their mental health. Students expressed concern about the quality of education they were receiving during the pandemic and access to resources to facilitate on-line learning was inadequate. Socio-economic and internet connectivity factors specific to Latin America were identified and these issues need to be addressed if on-line education is required in the future.

Implications for practice: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latin America and this study identifies the implications for radiography students related to their clinical and academic training and highlights factors which require consideration to support radiography students as the pandemic continues.

Keywords: COVID-19; Clinical placements; Radiography education; Student radiographers.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Challenges faced by students who underwent clinical placements during the studied pandemic period.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Concerns about infection risk when asked about clinical placement schedules during the pandemic of COVID-19. Percentage represents the total of students that marked that option as a concern, they were able to select three or more.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Summary of student concerns about the future of clinical placements due to COVID-19 in the cohorts who had attended clinical placements during the pandemic and the cohort who had not.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Responses described by training level categorisations versus concerns related to being on clinical placements at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Percentage represents the level of worry of the total of students that were on clinical placements (n = 313) versus their level of training.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Responses described by training level categorisations versus concerns related to future clinical placements. Percentage represents the level of worry of the total of students versus their level of training.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Responses described by training level categorisations versus concerns about becoming a radiographer. Percentage represents the level of worry of the total of students versus their level of training.
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