KNOWLEDGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CLINICAL RADIOGRAPHY PRACTICE AMONG RADIOGRAPHERS IN SELECTED CITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI) has found wide application in diagnostic radiology but the concepts and applications of AI in radiography practice is yet to be fully understood among Nigerian radiographers.

AIM: The main objective of the study was to access the knowledge of artificial intelligence in clinical radiography practice among radiographers in selected cities in Nigeria.

METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective research survey was carried out using a questionnaire. A stratified convenience sample of 118 out of 168 radiographers aged 18-76 years in three Nigerian cities participated in the study between February 2021 and September 2023. This sampling method was used because of the poor attitude of radiographers towards research. The items in the questionnaire were reviewed by experts, tested for reliability and validity before being uploaded to online radiography social media platforms using Google forms. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis at < 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS: 73 (61.9%) of radiographers had basic knowledge of AI while 89 (75.4%) radiographers will support the deployment of AI in health facilities in Nigeria. Regression analysis showed that basic knowledge of AI is associated with support for AI, efforts at personnel development towards AI, professional status and fear of job losses. However, support for AI deployment was the only independent predictor of ‘having knowledge of AI’ in the population (R2 = 0.092). There is a positive relationship between having knowledge of AI and support for the deployment of AI.

CONCLUSION: There was a general basic positive knowledge of AI among Nigerian Radiographers, but this was limited by fear of job losses. There was a positive relationship between knowledge of AI and support for its deployment, with a need to create more awareness and incorporate AI in the training curriculum of radiography students.