Pilot Study and Reliability Testing of Questionnaires on Knowledge, Perception and Awareness Toward Mri and Nuclear Imaging Safety Risk Among Medical Imaging Students

Abstract

Introduction: Medical imaging students typically learn about MRI and nuclear imaging safety risks through their curriculum, but the emphasis often remains on theoretical knowledge. Assessing students' practical knowledge, perception, and awareness of these safety issues is essential for their clinical preparedness. This study aimed to develop and validate questionnaires to evaluate knowledge and perceptions of MRI safety risks and knowledge and awareness of nuclear imaging safety risks among medical imaging students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Methods: A total of 26 questions were developed for the MRI safety questionnaire and 20 for the nuclear imaging safety questionnaire. Using purposive sampling, 109 students who had completed MRI and nuclear imaging courses participated in the study. Reliability testing was conducted on a randomly selected subset of 20 responses for each questionnaire using the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20). A descriptive analysis of the entire sample was done to evaluate the knowledge, perception, and awareness of MRI and nuclear imaging safety. Result: The MRI questionnaire produced a reliability coefficient of 0.76, and the nuclear imaging questionnaire produced 0.71, both indicating acceptable reliability. The descriptive analysis revealed that most students demonstrated moderate levels of knowledge, perception, and awareness of MRI and nuclear imaging safety. These findings suggest a need for targeted educational strategies to strengthen students' understanding, to better prepare them for clinical practice. Conclusion: The study shows that the developed questionnaires are reliable tools for assessing safety knowledge, perception, and awareness among medical imaging students, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvements in educational approaches.