ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE

Thyroid shields are protective devices used in radiography to reduce exposure of the thyroid gland to ionizing radiation. The thyroid is a radiosensitive organ, and shielding it is an important radiation protection practice. However, despite its importance, the consistent use of thyroid shields by radiography students is not always emphasized in training institutions in Nigeria. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge among final-year radiography students regarding the use of thyroid shields at the University of Benin. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted, involving 94 final-year radiography students. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, knowledge of thyroid anatomy and radiation sensitivity, knowledge of thyroid shield usage, and awareness of institutional practices regarding radiation protection. The collected data were coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation to determine the relationship between different knowledge domains. The results showed that students had high theoretical knowledge of thyroid anatomy and radiation sensitivity, with 91.5% correct responses. However, only 25.5% reported applying thyroid shields during practical radiographic proceduresKnowledge of proper shield usage showed a moderate positive correlation with knowledge of thyroid anatomy and radiation sensitivity (r = 0.465, p = 0.000). Additionally, institutional support was very limited, with fewer than 2% of students reporting the availability of thyroid shields or formal training on their use. Although students demonstrated strong theoretical understanding, their practical application of thyroid shields remains inadequate. Improving hands-on training, increasing access to protective equipment, and implementing formal radiation safety policies are recommended to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Keywords: Thyroid shields, protective devices, radiosensitive organ, Spearman’s rank correlation.

Background: The growing influence of information technology on various aspects of life including education necessitates the developing countries to use E-learning for better distribution of teaching materials and interaction between students and teachers. In Nigeria, there was a surge in use of E-learning to continue education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. E-learning represents a vital paradigm on higher education unconstrained by time and place, offering new opportunities for the development of the educational processes. Its adoption is vital to bridge the learning gap between developed and developing countries. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of undergraduate students in University of Benin towards E-learning. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for this study. Four hundred and twenty-five students were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Data was obtained using a standardized semi-structured self-administered questionnaire comprising both open ended and close ended questions. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 software with statistical significance set at p<0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Results: The mean age was calculated as 23.16 (±3.24) years. Of all the respondents, (62.8%) had good knowledge, while (37.2%) of respondents had poor knowledge. (97.2%) had a positive attitude, while 2.8% had a negative attitude. Challenges such as constant power failure, inadequate internet access, inadequate computer literacy skills and cost of data subscriptions were identified. 98.1% of respondents showed good readiness, while 1.9% showed poor readiness. The most commonly used E-learning tools were search engines, PowerPoint, virtual classrooms and mobile applications. Conclusion: The majority of respondents had good knowledge, positive attitude and good readiness towards E-learning. The major challenges were constant power failure, inadequate internet access, inadequate computer literacy skills and cost of data subscriptions. Keywords: Online, learning, technology Word count: 287