Saudi Medical Student Perceptions Concerning Interventional Radiology

Abstract Interventional radiology (IR) is a subspecialty of diagnostic radiology, that uses image-guided radiological methods to carry out minimally invasive procedures. Medical schools in Saudi Arabia minimally expose students to IR unless it is part of an elective rotation. The study aims to gauge how well-informed medical and radiology technology students are regarding the variations in educational and clinical experiences offered at different universities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, to assess students' interest in IR as a potential career path and their opinions about their life experiences concerning the department's future. This study used a cross-sectional study design. Between April and May 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, students studying radiology technology and medicine who were in their second year to internship year had access to an online questionnaire. The study found that 31.5% of the students reported having poor knowledge of IR, while 7.8% reported not knowing at all. Additionally, 45.9% of respondents felt that their knowledge was adequate, and a minority of 14.7% reported having an excellent understanding of IR concepts. Therefore, in order to enhance the students’ knowledge about IR, an early introduction of IR courses into the curriculum, IR symposiums, and conferences are required.