14 January 2025
Online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic left many radiography and radiation therapy students unready to enter the workforce, an Australia-wide survey of clinical educators has found. Clinical educators who believed students were prepared to meet professional standards dropped from 90 per cent before the pandemic, to less than 25 per cent in 2020 and 2021.
To provide a tool for describing student performance, researchers framed the survey questions against the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA) professional capabilities.
Students reportedly missed out on clinical time, patient interaction, and exposure to a variety of clinical experiences.
Key findings:
Even with the easing of restrictions, close to one in three clinical educators still felt that opportunities within placements were insufficient to meet requirements of the placement in contrast with pre-pandemic conditions.
The study findings come as the World Health Organisation warns more than 30 pathogens could trigger the next global pandemic.
Carolyn Heyes, President of the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, says the survey raises questions about how we tackle the unavoidable effect of lost clinical training during pandemics.
“Placements are vital in giving medical radiation students the hands-on experience they need. The healthcare training system as a whole needs to invest in tailored upskilling for graduates and supported workplace orientation programs as pandemic conditions lift,” she said.
“The knock-on effect of missed clinical placement experience can be felt for years to come.”
The study, The ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the clinical education of Australian medical radiation science students, was lead by Adam Steward and is published in the Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences.
