An evaluation of the nature and level of musculoskeletal imaging training in physiotherapy educational programmes in Nigeria

• Published in: BMC medical education Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 252
• Main Authors: Onyeso, Ogochukwu Kelechi, Umunnah, Joseph O, Ezema, Charles Ikechukwu, Balogun, Joseph A, Uchenwoke, Chigozie I, Nwankwo, Maduabuchukwu Joseph, Oke, Kayode Israel, Bello, Bashir, Nwosu, Ifeoma Blessing, Adje, Mishael E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 05-08-2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Academic Standards; Accreditation (Institutions); Clinical decision making; Consent; Curricula; Curriculum; Data collection; Decision making; Developing countries; Diagnostic imaging; Diagnostics imaging; Doctor of physical therapy; Education; Educational Background; Humans; Internship Programs; Internships; Kruskal-Wallis test; Likert Scales; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical diagnosis; Medical research; Musculoskeletal system; Nigeria; Online Surveys; Physical Disabilities; Physical Therapists; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Psychometrics; Qualifications; Questionnaires; Referral; Risk Assessment; Scintigraphy; Skill Development; Software; Studies; Teaching methods; Universities; Nigeria; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Doctor of physical therapy; Musculoskeletal system; Clinical decision making; Education; Physiotherapy; Curriculum; Diagnostics imaging
• ISSN: 1472-6920; 1472-6920
• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02183-5

Deficiency in musculoskeletal imaging (MI) education will pose a great challenge to physiotherapists in clinical decision making in this era of first-contact physiotherapy practices in many developed and developing countries. This study evaluated the nature and the level of MI training received by physiotherapists who graduate from Nigerian universities.
An online version of the previously validated Physiotherapist Musculoskeletal Imaging Profiling Questionnaire (PMIPQ) was administered to all eligible physiotherapists identified through the database of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria. Data were obtained on demographics, nature, and level of training on MI procedures using the PMIPQ. Logistic regression, Friedman's analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for the statistical analysis of collected data.
The results (n = 400) showed that only 10.0% of the respondents had a stand-alone entry-level course in MI, 92.8% did not have any MI placement during their clinical internship, and 67.3% had never attended a MI workshop. There was a significant difference in the level of training received across MI procedures [χ
(15) = 1285.899; p = 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in the level of MI training across institutions of entry-level programme (p = 0.36). The study participants with transitional Doctor of Physiotherapy education were better trained in MI than their counterparts with a bachelor's degree only (p = 0.047).
Most physiotherapy programmes in Nigeria did not include a specific MI module; imaging instructions were mainly provided through clinical science courses. The overall self-reported level of MI training among the respondents was deficient. It is recommended that stand-alone MI education should be introduced in the early part of the entry-level physiotherapy curriculum.