Journal of Global Radiology

Article Title

Experiences of Medical Imaging Students and Clinical Learning in a Limited Resource Setting - A Qualitative Study in Rwanda

Authors

Benard Ouko Ondari, University of RwandaFollow
Lakshmi Rajeswaran, New York UniversityFollow
Kene Kingsley Ekemiri, University of RwandaFollow
Sunday Francois Xavier, University of RwandaFollow
Ndahiriwe Jean Baptiste, University of RwandaFollow

Article Type

Original Research

Publication Date

2019-04-29

DOI

10.7191/jgr.2019.1059

Abstract

Purpose: This qualitative research aimed to explore the experiences of University of Rwanda medical imaging students during their clinical practice in the country.

Methods and Materials: Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with open-ended questions were held with twenty five medical imaging sciences students who were enrolled in their second and final year respectively of the bachelors with honors and national diploma programs.

Results: Qualitative exploratory descriptive research was conducted in March 2017 through FDGs. The recorded data was transcribed, anonymized, coded, categorized and conceptualized into four themes: theory-practice gap, teaching and learning support, occupational health and safety, resources and infrastructure. Data was analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicate that there were aspects which negatively impacted clinical experiences of medical imaging students. This valuable information is important to create awareness among medical imaging academia and practicing professionals about the challenges faced by medical imaging students in clinical practice.

Conclusion: Medical imaging students experienced a number of challenges during their clinical training in Rwanda. Based on these findings, specific recommendations are suggested with an aim to enhance the clinical training process of medical imaging students

Keywords

medical imaging, clinical experiences, resource limited setting, Rwanda

Rights and Permissions

© 2019 Ondari, Rajeswaran, Ekemiri, Xavier, Baptiste

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express appreciation to the University of Rwanda through the Department of Medical Imaging Sciences for allowing the opportunity to carry out this study and all students involved in this study.

Corresponding Author(s)

Benard Ouko Ondar, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Faculty of Diagnostic Sciences, Department of Medical Imaging Sciences, PO Box 30195, Nairobi, Kenya; ondarizoc@gmail.com

Repository Citation

Ondari BO, Rajeswaran L, Ekemiri KK, Xavier SF, Baptiste NJ. Experiences of Medical Imaging Students and Clinical Learning in a Limited Resource Setting - A Qualitative Study in Rwanda. Journal of Global Radiology 2019;5(1):1059. https://doi.org/10.7191/jgr.2019.1059. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/jgr/vol5/iss1/2