An investigation of radiography education in Spanish speaking countries in Europe and Latin America

Abstract

Purpose: To establish the current situation related to radiography education in Spanish speaking countries in Europe and Latin America.

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the global heterogeneity of radiography education [1-6]. This diversity is seen within specific subject areas such as radiation protection [7], patient safety more broadly[8], simulation, and clinical education. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has further identified challenges and opportunities linked to radiography education which has forced educational institutions around the world to rethink aspects of their curricula, taught and clinical [9-11]. Many articles have been published focusing on local, national, and international data related to these challenges and opportunities; indeed one study focused on Latin America and the impact of the pandemic on both students and on their clinical education [12]. A recently published study explored the vocational structure of radiography education in Spain, along with the perspectives of Spanish radiography educators [13]. In Spain, one of the most surprising data is the increasing number of graduated students rising from n=2,329 in 2001 to a maximum of n=14,526 in 2019, these figures inclusive of medical imaging and radiation therapy graduates [14]. The authors concluded that this number exceeds occupational needs and creates difficulties in managing clinical training. Another notable point made in this study was that it identified the small number of Spanish radiographers included in the teaching staff of training institutions. In Spain, in 1963 a three-month hospital training program formed the first for radiography technicians [15]. Five years later in 1968, in Costa Rica a hospital training program of a year duration was the beginning of the radiography education [16]. In Cuba, primarily empirical training was provided, with the start of the college degree in 1989 [17]. In Bolivia, the college degree commenced in 1980, so several decades ago a degree level Radiography education was provided in Latin America around the same period as in several European countries e.g. Ireland and the United Kingdom. In more recent years across Latin America Radiography education is imparted mainly by Universities on at graduate level, with the majority of education programs (68.4%) having a duration of 4 years or more, while in Spain education is mainly imparted by pre-university vocational training institutions on a technical level and it has not progressed to university level education [18]. This survey set out to determine the current status of Radiography education in Spanish speaking countries and this poster provides an overview of several matters associated with Radiography education.