Assessment of Clinical Competences and Self-confidence of Radiologist and Technologist at Asir Region Hospitals, Saudi Arabia

Background: Evaluating the clinical competencies of radiologist and technologist is the primary important factor in all medical imaging areas, and it is a necessary prerequisite for assuring professional standard care in radiography.
Aim: to evaluate clinical competences from the views of radiologists and technologists by applying the Radiographers’ Competence Scale (RCS).
Method: A cross-sectional survey conducted on 185 participants recruited from six hospitals of Asir region of Saudi Arabia. All data were collected using the self-administrative questionnaire of 28 items scale of radiographer competence scale consisting of the two components; initial care scale and technical radiographic process. The level of competencies scale was rated through 10 – point and frequency of use on 6 – point scale.
Results: The survey completed by 82 (44.3%) radiologist and 103 (55.7%) technologist. Overall mean significant (P < 0.001) differences scores of Initial Care scale observed between radiologist and technologist. However, with reference to technical and radiographic process no mean significant differences were detected between the two groups. The technologist attributed the highest evaluations to such competencies as "Adequately informing the patient" and "Guiding the patient's relatives", while other attributes the lowest evaluations expressed in the competencies. The radiologists attributed the highest evaluations to such competences as "Collaborating with physicians “and "Independent carrying out of the doctor’s prescriptions", while the lowest evaluations to the same competences as the technologists.
Conclusion: The significant findings underline the radiologist and high technologist competences in both “Initial Care scale “and "Technical and Radiographic Process". However, the lower rated competences emphasis on continuous professional development in the area of medical radiology.