Infection prevention and control (IPC) curriculum in universities offering medical imaging programs

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Imaging
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)

Background:

• IPC is critical in medical imaging education, particularly for computed tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine (NM).
• Drug administration, including contrast media (CM) and radiopharmaceuticals, increases infection risks in these programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the infection prevention and control (IPC) curricula concerning drug administration in medical imaging programs.
• To identify teaching strategies, resources, and challenges in delivering IPC education within these programs.

Main Methods:

• An online cross-sectional survey was distributed to program directors in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Ireland.
• Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and qualitative content analysis.

Main Results:

• Twenty participants from Australia and the UK responded, with most programs utilizing practical activities, simulations, and multimedia resources.
• Key challenges identified were limited resources and restricted clinical access.
• Collaboration, curriculum updates, and innovative technologies were highlighted as effective strategies, with experiential learning crucial for skill development.

Conclusions:

• Medical imaging programs show commitment to IPC education via active learning strategies.
• Addressing resource limitations and ensuring curriculum updates through collaboration and innovation are vital for sustainable IPC training.
• Prioritizing ongoing IPC training with simulation and case-based learning, alongside university-clinical collaboration, enhances student preparedness and patient safety.