Professional challenges faced by student radiographers during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiography Training
• Public Health Crises

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare education globally.
• Radiography students experienced unique difficulties in clinical and academic settings during this period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges encountered by radiography students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To document student experiences in mid-2020.
• To explore strategies supporting resilience in radiography education and clinical placements.

Main Methods:

• An international online survey with 20 questions was administered to radiography students (June-July 2020).
• Data included demographics and free-text responses on training-related challenges.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data from 1110 participants.

Main Results:

• Key challenges identified included issues with radiography teaching, university management, personal protective equipment (PPE), and financial concerns.
• Students reported anxiety, concerns about clinical preparedness, placement safety, disrupted learning, and institutional communication.
• Despite challenges, many students noted strengthened professional identity, clinical competence, and teamwork skills.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals critical training challenges and the emotional/professional impact on radiography students during the pandemic's early stages.
• Findings inform emergency preparedness and highlight broader shifts in healthcare education, such as enhanced digital learning and peer mentorship.
• The pandemic catalyzed the development of more flexible and resilient educational models for radiography programs.