WILLINGNESS OF GRADUATE RADIOGRAPHERS TO CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Continuing professional development (CPD) is a systematic and ongoing process of education undertaken by health professionals to maintain up-to-date knowledge and development skills.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of willingness of Radiographers to undertake continuing professional development in Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenience sampling technique was adopted for the study. A self-administered and well-structured questionnaire consisting 21 items with 3 sections; A, B and C was developed. Section A was on the socio-demographic data of the respondents with 7 items. Section B had 12 items that elicited responses on the level of willingness and section C with 2 items that focused on suggestions to encourage CPD. These were distributed online and offline to Radiographers in Nigeria. A total of 100 respondents were recruited for the study: 30 respondents were offline and the remaining 70 via the online route. Across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, 30 respondents were gotten from the South-South, 18 from the South-East, 20 from the South-West, 10 from the North-West, 10 from the North-East, and 12 from North-Central. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 at a p-value of ≥ 0.05. Statistics used were descriptive statistics which included charts and tables, inferential statistics which include Kruskal-Wallis Test which was used to test for differences in level of willingness across the 6 geopolitical zones. Cochran’s Q test was used to compare the willingness simultaneously. A correlation test using Spearman’s rho was used to assess the relationship between years of working experience and level of willingness. A Chi-square analysis was also used to check for association.

RESULTS: A total of 84 respondents (84%) willingly participated in continuing professional development programme out of the 100 participants used in this study. There was no significant difference in the level of willingness across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Lack of finance (41%) and location of programmes (27%) were observed to be the major barriers to continuing professional development. There was also a significant positive relationship between years of working experience and willingness to participate in Continuing Professional Development programmes.  A majority (39%) suggested that the cost of the programmes be reduced and 21% suggested the programmes be decentralized.

CONCLUSION: The study concluded that there is a high level of willingness of graduate Radiographers to undertake continuing professional development in Nigeria. However, the high cost of training and the location of the training programmes are the major barriers.