SIR 2024
General IR
Jared M. Alswang, BS
Medical Student
Harvard Medical School
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Balowa Musa, MD
Interventional Radiology Fellow
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Tanzania
Disclosure information not submitted.
Nader Ashraf (he/him/his)
Medical student
Alfaisal University, Egypt
Disclosure information not submitted.
Azza Naif, MD
Staff Interventional Radiologist
Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania
Disclosure information not submitted.
Erick M. Mbuguje, MD
Staff Interventional Radiologist
Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania
Disclosure information not submitted.
Hamed Asadi, MD, PhD, FRANZCR
Interventional Neuroradiologist
Austin Health, Australia
Disclosure information not submitted.
Fabian M. Laage Gaupp, MD
Interventional Radiologist
Yale School of Medicine
Financial relationships: Full list of relationships is listed on the CME information page.
Vijay Ramalingam, MD
Vascular Interventional Radiologist
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Disclosure information not submitted.
Behnam Shaygi, MD, MS
Consultant Interventional & Diagnostic Radiologist
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, United Kingdom
Disclosure information not submitted.
The objectives of this educational exhibit are to evaluate the current perception of IR among diagnostic radiology residents in Tanzania, factors that draw individuals towards or away from the specialty, and the impact an introductory session on IR has on those arenas.
Background:
Access to interventional radiology (IR) is severely limited in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, there was no IR presence in the country until East Africa’s first IR training program was launched there in 2019. A three-hour lecture series was organized by local and visiting IR faculty to provide a broad overview and introduction to IR for all three classes of the country’s flagship diagnostic radiology training program. Prior to and following the lecture series, participants completed a web-based survey to assess their exposure to and general interest in IR, factors drawing them to and away from a career in IR, and awareness of diseases treated by IR.
Clinical Findings/Procedure Details:
Out of the 68 residents, 44 (64.7%) and 40 (58.8%) completed the pre- and post-lecture survey, respectively. 25.0% and 43.2% reported that they ‘strongly agree’ or 'agree’ to have adequate prior hands-on and theoretical training in radiology-based procedures (pre), respectively. The percentage of respondents indicating that they ‘strongly agree’ or ‘agree’ that they would consider a career in IR increased from 43.2% to 78.0% (p=0.04). The factors in which residents most frequently ‘strongly agree’ draw them to a career in IR (pre), included direct patient care (29.5%), direct role in treatment (29.5%), and diverse organ systems and diseases managed (25.0%). The factors in which residents most frequently ‘strongly agree’ concern them about a career in IR (pre), included risk of radiation exposure (38.6%), lack of remote work opportunities (20.5%), and a “surgical”/procedural lifestyle (13.6%). There were no statistically significant differences between classes and genders among any of the factors. Correct identification of diseases treated by IR improved from a mean of 6.3 to 7.5 out of 10 (p< 0.001). 87.8% ‘strongly agree’ that IR can play an important role in healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (post).
Conclusion and/or Teaching Points:
Interventional radiology is generally well-perceived among diagnostic radiology trainees in Tanzania with high recognition of the specialty’s potential role in the region and overall strong interest in the field. Early education and exposure to IR is needed to cultivate areas of interest and address potential concerns or misconceptions about IR to foster continued specialty growth in this resource-limited setting.