Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Background The successful development of teleimaging platforms depends on imaging physicians' knowledge, perceptions and support, but few studies have focused on this specific subject in Africa. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiol...

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Main Authors: Kokou Adambounou, Akoeté Beleave Kouevidjin, Salif Djigo, Romaric Socratès Degan, Gilles David Houndetoungan, Pakisba Ali Ouedraogo, Massaga Dagbé, Pihou Gbandé
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-08-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-025-01542-w
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author Kokou Adambounou
Akoeté Beleave Kouevidjin
Salif Djigo
Romaric Socratès Degan
Gilles David Houndetoungan
Pakisba Ali Ouedraogo
Massaga Dagbé
Pihou Gbandé
author_facet Kokou Adambounou
Akoeté Beleave Kouevidjin
Salif Djigo
Romaric Socratès Degan
Gilles David Houndetoungan
Pakisba Ali Ouedraogo
Massaga Dagbé
Pihou Gbandé
author_sort Kokou Adambounou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The successful development of teleimaging platforms depends on imaging physicians' knowledge, perceptions and support, but few studies have focused on this specific subject in Africa. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from 5 May to 5 August 2022 and included radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians practising in French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries. Data were collected electronically via Google Forms. Results Of the 141 imagers surveyed, 7.1% were nuclear medicine physicians, 65.96% had already received training in teleimaging, and 9.93% had already carried out formal teleimaging activities. Of the respondents, 44.68% were familiar with both primary teleimaging procedures (telediagnoses and tele-expertise), 51.06% had some knowledge of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), and 84.4% knew that patient consent was required before telediagnosis. Approximately one quarter were unaware that the presence of a nuclear medicine physician was mandatory for remote diagnosis in nuclear medicine, and 51.1% had no idea of the technical specifics of a computer dedicated to teleimaging. The majority (92.90%) perceived teleimaging as having more advantages than disadvantages, and 98.6% used virtual channels such as WhatsApp to transfer images. In 56.02% of the cases, they did not take any security precautions when performing teleimaging procedures. Conclusion The level of knowledge of teleimaging among imaging physicians in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa was relatively unsatisfactory, although the perception was encouraging, and the right attitudes were not always adopted.
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spelling doaj-art-dafe3ac8b403447daa790f2de3dda0bd2025-08-20T03:04:23ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine2090-47622025-08-0156111210.1186/s43055-025-01542-wKnowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan AfricaKokou Adambounou0Akoeté Beleave Kouevidjin1Salif Djigo2Romaric Socratès Degan3Gilles David Houndetoungan4Pakisba Ali Ouedraogo5Massaga Dagbé6Pihou Gbandé7Biophysic and Medical Imaging Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of LomeBiophysic and Medical Imaging Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of LomeBiophysic and Nuclear Medicine Departments, University Cheick Anta Diop of DakarMedical Imaging Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of LomeBiophysics and Nuclear Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-CalaviRadiology Department, University of OuagaMedical Imaging Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of LomeMedical Imaging Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of LomeAbstract Background The successful development of teleimaging platforms depends on imaging physicians' knowledge, perceptions and support, but few studies have focused on this specific subject in Africa. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from 5 May to 5 August 2022 and included radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians practising in French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries. Data were collected electronically via Google Forms. Results Of the 141 imagers surveyed, 7.1% were nuclear medicine physicians, 65.96% had already received training in teleimaging, and 9.93% had already carried out formal teleimaging activities. Of the respondents, 44.68% were familiar with both primary teleimaging procedures (telediagnoses and tele-expertise), 51.06% had some knowledge of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), and 84.4% knew that patient consent was required before telediagnosis. Approximately one quarter were unaware that the presence of a nuclear medicine physician was mandatory for remote diagnosis in nuclear medicine, and 51.1% had no idea of the technical specifics of a computer dedicated to teleimaging. The majority (92.90%) perceived teleimaging as having more advantages than disadvantages, and 98.6% used virtual channels such as WhatsApp to transfer images. In 56.02% of the cases, they did not take any security precautions when performing teleimaging procedures. Conclusion The level of knowledge of teleimaging among imaging physicians in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa was relatively unsatisfactory, although the perception was encouraging, and the right attitudes were not always adopted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-025-01542-wTeleimagingRadiologistsNuclear medicine physiciansTelemedicineFrench-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
spellingShingle Kokou Adambounou
Akoeté Beleave Kouevidjin
Salif Djigo
Romaric Socratès Degan
Gilles David Houndetoungan
Pakisba Ali Ouedraogo
Massaga Dagbé
Pihou Gbandé
Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Teleimaging
Radiologists
Nuclear medicine physicians
Telemedicine
French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title_full Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title_short Knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort knowledge perceptions and attitudes of radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians towards medical teleimaging in french speaking sub saharan africa
topic Teleimaging
Radiologists
Nuclear medicine physicians
Telemedicine
French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-025-01542-w
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