Musculoskeletal imaging authority, levels of training, attitude, competence, and utilisation among clinical physiotherpists in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey
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Date
2022
Authors
Onyeso, Ogochukwu K.
Umunnah, Joseph O.
Eze, Joseph C.
Onigbinde, Ayodele T.
Anyachukwu, Canice C.
Ezema, Charles I.
Onwuakagba, Ifeoma U.
Abaraogu, Ukachukwu O.
Awhen, Agba P.
Anikwe, Ernest E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Nature
Abstract
Background: Direct-access physiotherapy practice has led to a global review of the use of differential-diagnostic
modalities such as musculoskeletal imaging (MI) in physiotherapy.
Objective: To explore the MI authority, levels of training, attitude, utilisation, and competence among clinical physi-
otherapists in Nigeria.
Methods: This national cross-sectional study analysed a voluntary response sample of 400 Nigerian physiotherapists
that completed the online version of the Physiotherapist’s Musculoskeletal Imaging Profiling Questionnaire (PMIPQ),
using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Friedman’s ANOVA tests.
Results: Of the 400 participants, 93.2% believed that physiotherapists should use MI in clinical practice. However,
only 79.8% reported having MI authority in their practice settings. The participants’ median (interquartile range) levels
of training =10 (24) and competence =16 (24) were moderate. Nonetheless, levels of training (χ2 [15] = 1285.899,
p = 0.001), and competence (χ2 [15] = 1310.769, p < 0.001) differed across MI procedures. The level of training and
competence in x-ray referral and utilisation was significantly higher than magnetic resonance imaging, computed
tomography scan, ultrasonography, scintigraphy, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, in that order (p < 0.05). There
was a significant positive correlation between the levels of training and competence (rho =0.61, p < 0.001). The par-
ticipants had a positive attitude =32 (32) and occasionally used MI in clinical practice =21 (28).
Conclusion: Majority of the respondents believed they had MI authority although there was no explicit affirmation
of MI authority in the Nigerian Physiotherapy Practice Act. Participants had a positive attitude towards MI. How-
ever, levels of MI training, competence, and utilisation were moderate. Our findings have legislative and curriculum implications
Description
Open access article. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0) applies
Keywords
Clinical competence , Curriculum , Diagnostic imaging , Physical therapists , Referral , Musculoskeletal imaging , Clinical physiotherapists
Citation
Onyeso, O. K., Umunnah, J. O., Eze, J. C., Onigbinde, A. T., Anyachukwu, C. C., Ezema, C. I., Onwuakagba, I. U., Obaraogu, U. O., Awhen, A. P., Anikwe, E. E., Akinola, O. T., & Kalu, M. E. (2022). Musculoskeletal imaging authority, levels of training, attitude, competence, and utilisation among clinical physiotherapists in Nigeria: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Medical Education, 20, Article 252. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02183-5