ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS RISK ASSOCIATED WITH MEDICAL X-RAY PROCEDURE

1.1 Introduction

Awareness is the act of knowing that something exists and attitude is the way people behave towards something that shows how they think and feel concerning it. Medical X-ray investigation is an indispensable arm of modern medicine that uses X-ray for diagnosis and management of diseases. It is one of the most powerful medical imaging tools and the second most commonly used medical test after medical laboratory tests which aids in diagnosis. With the advent of X-rays as a diagnostic technique, radiological procedures are increasingly being used in diagnosis and management of wide range of diseases, resulting in increased population exposure. The increase in utilization has led to a parallel increase in concern regarding radiation risks because X-ray procedures utilize ionizing radiation which is harmful to health.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Students’ level of awareness about risks associated with X-ray investigations influences their attitude towards X-ray procedures. The days of ignorance are gone so it is important that the general public including students is aware of risks associated with medical X-ray procedures to have the right attitude towards medical X-ray procedures and so be able to make clearer decisions about their healthcare.

Medical X-rays are usually the most common form of electric magnetic radiation. Technological developments in imaging have resulted in increasingly powerful and guided X- ray rays, and also growing use of visible light in adolescence microbial tissues and structural elements of materials like concrete. Since its discovery in 1895 X-ray has been commonly used in medication and some areas of technology, science and engineering.

Radiation is defined as energy in motion. Which can be transmitted as a wave, it emanates from a source and can travel through a space and some materials (Woodside, 1997). Based on energy level and ionization potential, radiation is of two types, ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation (Maccia, 2015). Radiation exposure is a measure of the ionization of air by ionizing radiations such as gamma rays, X-rays and alpha particle. It is defined to be the electric charge freed by the radiation divided by the mass of the air (Glen, 2010). However the risk associated with x-ray investigation is far outweighed by the medical benefit of having the diagnosis. Also radiologists/radiographers tries to reduce the probability of radiation risks occurrence by making radiation dose from medical imaging as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA Principle), yet no risk should be over looked no matter how insignificant such risk is. Some patients due to misconceptions rejects the diagnosis even at the risk of deleterious health outcomes while some will prefer to have the investigation done first rather than worrying about the risks involved.

Several studies have shown that there is poor awareness about radiation risks associated with radiological examinations and that patient’s decisions against undergoing an imaging procedure are frequently based on partial and sometimes incorrect information. The rising increase on the use of x-ray investigations and the curiosity to know whether students are aware of such risks associated with X-ray investigations and their attitude towards it triggered the researcher to assess the students’ awareness and their attitude towards risks associated with medical X-ray investigations. Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the awareness and attitude of students towards risk associated with medical x-ray procedure.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the level of awareness about risks associated with X-ray investigations among students outside the medical field is unknown and he attitude of students outside medical field towards risks associated with X-ray investigations is unknown. The need of finding a better method of communicating risks associated with X-ray investigations.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to assess the awareness and attitude of students towards risk associated with medical x-ray procedure using Non-medical Students in University of Nigeria as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the level of awareness of the risks associated with X-ray investigations among students outside medical field.
2. To assess students’ attitude towards risks associated with X-ray investigations.
3. To assess the best method of communicating risks associated with medical X-ray procedures.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there any best method of communicating risks associated with medical X-ray procedures?
• What is the students’ attitude towards risks associated with X-ray investigations?
• What is the level of awareness of the risks associated with X-ray investigations among students outside medical field?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Students are not aware of the risks associated with X-ray investigations in University of Nigeria
• H1: Students are aware of the risks associated with X-ray investigations in University of Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

The following are the relevance of this research work, which is stated as follows:

1. The research will document the levels of awareness of risks associated with medical X-ray investigations among students.
2. The research will serve as a guide to know the attitude of students toward risks associated with medical X-ray procedures.
3. The research will aid to determine the best method of communicating risks associated with medical X-ray investigations.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the assessment and awareness and attitude of students towards risk associated with medical x-ray procedure using Non-medical Students in University of Nigeria as a case study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Medication: A medication is a substance that is taken in to or placed on the body that does one of the following things: most medications are used to cure disease or condition. (For example, antibiotics are given to cure an infection. Medications are also given to treat a medical condition).

Prescription: A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other qualified health care practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient.

Symptom: A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is apparent to a patient, reflecting the presence of an unusual state or of a disease. (For example: tiredness, cough or fever).