ABSTRACT
This research was carried out to assess the attitude of radiography students towards their clinical placement in University of Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used. The purpose of this study was to find out what radiography students feel about their clinical placement and to determine the level of interest that radiography students show towards their clinical placement while identifying the common factors and differences that influence the student’s perception of clinical placement. A total of eighty-three respondents comprising of third, fourth, and fifth year students were used. The study showed that the students have a positive attitude towards their clinical placement and that there factors that affect their clinical competence.
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Age and sex distribution of respondents 15
Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to their university of study and level of study 16
Table 3: Mean values of responses of students interest level towards their clinical placement according to the level of study. 17
Table 4: Mean values of responses of students interest level towards their clinical placement according to the university of the respondents 18
Table 5: Distribution of the responses of students on their attitude towards their clinical placement based on their level of study 20
Table 6: Distribution of the responses of students on their attitude towards their clinical placement based on their university of study 21
Table 7: Mean values of responses to the factors affecting students attitude towards their clinical placement based on their level of study. 22
Table 8: Mean values of responses to the factors affecting students attitude towards their clinical placement based on their university of study 23
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page: = = = = = = = = = = i
Approval: = = = = = = = = = = ii
Certification: = = = = = = = = =` iii
Dedication: = = = = = = = = = = iv
Acknowledgement: = = = = = = = = v
Abstract: = = = = = = = = = = vi
List of tables: = = = = = = = = = vii
Table of contents: = = = = = = = = = viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study = = = = = = = 1
1.2 Statement of problem = = = = = = = = 3
1.3 Purpose of study = = = = = = = = 3
1.4 Significance of study = = = = = = = = 4
1.5 Scope of the study = = = = = = = = 4
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Literature review = = = = = = = = 5
CHAPTER THREE:
3.1 Research design = = = = = = = = 13
3.2 Source of data = = = = = = = = = 13
3.3 Sampling method = = = = = = = = 13
3.4 Method of data analysis = = = = = = = 14
CHAPTER FOUR:
4.1Data analysis = = = = = = = = = 15
4.2 Data presentation = = = = = = = = 15
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1Discussion of findings = = = = = = = = 25
5.2 Summary of findings = = = = = = = = 29
5.3 Recommendations = = = = = = = = 29
5.4 Limitations of study = = = = = = = = 30
5.5 Conclusion= = = = = = = = = = 30
5.6 Areas for further research = = = = = = = 31
REFERENCES
Background
In any discipline in life, our attitude towards whatever we do matters a lot. In our academics, our attitude towards the various parts of training is pertinent for a good training to be obtained.
An attitude can be defined as “a positive or negative evaluation of people, objects, event, activities, ideas, or just about anything in your environment”1 .In the opinion of Bain, an attitude is "the relatively stable over behaviour of a person which affects his status."1."Attitudes which are different to a group are thus social attitudes or `values”1 in the Thomasonian sense. The attitude is the status-fixing behaviour. This differentiates it from habit and vegetative processes as such, and totally ignores the hypothetical 'subjective states' which have formerly been emphasized. Perception according to Webster’s Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus is “the act or faculty of perceiving; discernment; insight; a way of perceiving”. Dictionary.com in its own view sees perception as “the act or faculty of apprehending by means of senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding.”
Student is always a great word to know. Everybody has always been a student in one way or the order. Once you have learnt something in life, you are said to be a student. “A student is therefore a person formally engaged in learning, especially one enrolled in a school or college.”. “A student can also be any person who studies, investigates, or examines thoughtfully. A student can also be a person studying a particular thing”
Clinical placements help students develop skills relevant to their study and are a requirement of the course. “They may be undertaken during semester or in semester breaks and can vary from regular one-day placements to block periods of several weeks. Costs, such as instruments, uniform, accommodation or travel, may be involved. Clinical placements involve supervised practice in approved clinical situations, including teaching hospitals, private hospitals and clinics, community health centers, and specialist areas”. “It is simply an experiential education opportunity required as part of a health professional course of study. It involves the integration and application of skills and knowledge by the student, relevant to the course subjects for which the practical component is required in order for the student to complete that specific subject”
In Nigeria student radiographers are posted to various standard hospitals, mostly teaching hospitals, to gain more experience with a view to becoming better radiographers. This clinical placement is part of their basic requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Radiography. The Institute of Radiography, a division of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria, in their students’ record of clinical and practical training, stipulated the minimum number of times a student must witness the various examinations carried out in radiography and radiology. This makes it pertinent for students to conform to the stipulations of the institute.
