Radiology knowledge and career interest among medical students in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen: a multicenter...

Radiology plays a crucial role in diagnosing and managing numerous diseases, yet it remains underrepresented in many medical school curricula. This is the first multicenter study to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Arab medical students towards radiology, aiming to identify educational disparities and their potential causes.

This cross-sectional study was conducted across three Arab countries: Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. It targeted medical students in their 4th, 5th, or 6th year, as well as postgraduate internship year. Data was collected using an online questionnaire comprising 38 questions organized into seven sections. The questions were formatted using a multiple-choice Likert scale and yes/no responses. Statistical analysis was carried out using Jamovi software version 2.3.

A total of 802 students (51.4% male, 48.6% female), ranging from 4th-year students to interns, completed the questionnaire. The overall level of radiology knowledge was modest (9.0 ± 2.4), with mean scores slightly above half of the maximum possible (17 points). Yemen exhibited the highest mean score (9.3 ± 2.4), followed by Egypt (8.9 ± 2.5) and Libya (8.6 ± 2.2). Students who received their radiology education through individual modules achieved significantly higher knowledge scores than those instructed through integrated modules (p = 0.0001). The participants also demonstrated a high level of knowledge about radiology screening tests. However, understanding radiation exposure levels for CT, MRI, and ultrasound was limited. Of the total, 491 students (61.2%) expressed interest in pursuing a career in radiology, while 311 (38.7%) cited lack of interest and concerns about radiation exposure as deterrents.

Our findings suggest that medical students in Egypt, Libya, and Yemen have awareness of some core radiology concepts; particularly those related to fetal safety and established screening practices. However, their overall knowledge of radiology is modest, with substantial gaps in areas such as radiation exposure levels and contraindications. It highlights the need for enhanced radiology education early on in clinical years to address these gaps in the field.