EGBUKICHI VICTOR .C.

Patient-centered care is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of quality in diagnostic imaging. Communication between radiographers and patients during computed tomography (CT) procedures plays a central role in shaping psychological responses, particularly in relation to comfort and anxiety. Despite its importance, limited evidence exists in the Nigerian context on how radiographer communication influences patient experience. This study therefore assessed the relationship between radiographer communication and patients’ psychological responses during CT examinations. This descriptive cross-sectional survey employed a structured questionnaire to collect data from 97 patients undergoing CT procedures. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests of association. Findings were presented in frequency tables, percentages, and statistical outputs at a significance level of p < 0.05. The findings revealed that 63.9% of respondents were first-time CT patients, with the majority reporting heightened anxiety before, during, and after the procedure. While 79.3% acknowledged that radiographers provided clear procedural explanations, only 63.9% felt their anxiety was reduced by the communication received. Chi-square analysis showed no statistically significant association between radiographer communication and psychological responses of comfort and anxiety (χ² = 9.394, df = 1, p = 0.659). Although radiographer communication was effective in providing technical explanations, it was less effective in addressing patients’ emotional needs. This underscores a training gap in therapeutic communication and psychological support within radiography practice. The study recommends integrating patient psychology, therapeutic communication, and anxiety management modules into radiography curricula, alongside continuing professional development programs. Healthcare facilities should prioritize staff-patient interaction

The pregnancies present special safety concerns owing to the high levels of radiosensitivity of the embryo-fetus. This was an evaluation of radiation protection protocols used with pregnant patients when they undergo X-ray services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). A cross-sectional (descriptive) survey of radiographers (N = 32) was done, where the survey utilizing a structured, self-administered questionnaire to respondents focused on the shielding practice, dose-reduction methods, and compliance aspects. Simple inferential test and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The majority of the respondents were male (78.1%), the most frequent age group was 26-30 years (35.9%); 53.1% of them were interns, and 87.5% had already worked with pregnant patients. Practice was high in terms of overall shielding (grand mean = 3.88/5) with routine lead shielding (mean = 4.1) and proper etching of the fetal-region shielding (mean = 4.0) being reported most frequently. There was also strong dose-reduction behavior (grand mean = 3.98), with avoiding repeat exposures (mean = 4.4), reducing exposure factors (mean = 4.2) and tight collimation (mean = 4.1) being the leaders. The best compliance was observed with confidence in fetal-risk knowledge (mean = 4.0) and prior-training (mean = 3.9) with high workload (mean = 3.6) and moderate availability/use of pregnancy specific protocols (mean = 3.5) being considered gaps. All in all, the good shielding practice was demonstrated by 78.1 percent of radiographers. A chi-square test revealed no statistically significant difference between the practice categories of shielding (kh2= 0.08, df= 1, p= 0.77). To sum up, radiographers in the teaching hospital of the university of Benin demonstrate good commitments to practices in line with the ALARA to the care of pregnant patients, especially in shielding and collimation as well as reducing repeats. Prolonged CPD, protocols specific to pregnancy, enhanced workflow facilitation, and an unproblematic access to maternity-fit shielding are suggested in order to seal the remaining gaps. Data collection had to be pre-empted with ethical approval and institutional permissions.