Kokou Adambounou1,2, Komlan Amoussou3, Alexis Agbodjan4, Amégninou Mawuko Yao Adigo4,5, Lantam Sonhaye3, Victor Adjenou3. 1. Biophysic and Medical Imaging Departments, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of Lomé, Lomé, 05BP 633, Togo. kadambounou@yahoo.fr. 2. Radiology Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. kadambounou@yahoo.fr. 3. Radiology Department, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. 4. Biophysic and Medical Imaging Departments, Campus Teaching Hospital, University of Lomé, Lomé, 05BP 633, Togo. 5. Radiology Department, North Ardennes Intercommunal Hospital, Charleville-Mezieres, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and practical attitudes of ultrasonography physicians regarding the biological effects of ultrasound in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out over a period of 03 months (from 1st August to 31st October 2019) which included doctors carrying out ultrasound examinations in French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries via an electronic survey form. RESULTS: The 137 ultrasonography physicians came from 13 different countries and included 58% radiologists, 15% gynecologists, 14% cardiologists and 13% general practitioners. The majority of ultrasonography physicians had less than 10 years of professional experience (87.60%) and performed more than 25 ultrasonographies per week (65.69%). The biological effects of ultrasound were known by 69.34% of ultrasonography physicians. Only 44% were able to cite the two biological effects of ultrasounds; 59.13% were unaware of the existence of thermal and mechanical indexes and 66.42% had no idea about the normal values of these indexes. They were unaware that their devices showed mechanical or thermal index in 48.91% of cases, consulted these indexes at the beginning of ultrasound explorations in 26.92%, and had no idea about the practical attitudes to adopt in the face of an increase in these indexes in 54.74% of cases. Half of the gynecologists and general practitioners and 55% of the radiologists affirmed that they avoid using Doppler as much as possible to explore the embryo. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of ultrasonography physicians about the biological effects of ultrasound was unsatisfactory in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa and good attitudes to ultrasound safety were not always adopted.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and practical attitudes of ultrasonography physicians regarding the biological effects of ultrasound in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study carried out over a period of 03 months (from 1st August to 31st October 2019) which included doctors carrying out ultrasound examinations in French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries via an electronic survey form. RESULTS: The 137 ultrasonography physicians came from 13 different countries and included 58% radiologists, 15% gynecologists, 14% cardiologists and 13% general practitioners. The majority of ultrasonography physicians had less than 10 years of professional experience (87.60%) and performed more than 25 ultrasonographies per week (65.69%). The biological effects of ultrasound were known by 69.34% of ultrasonography physicians. Only 44% were able to cite the two biological effects of ultrasounds; 59.13% were unaware of the existence of thermal and mechanical indexes and 66.42% had no idea about the normal values of these indexes. They were unaware that their devices showed mechanical or thermal index in 48.91% of cases, consulted these indexes at the beginning of ultrasound explorations in 26.92%, and had no idea about the practical attitudes to adopt in the face of an increase in these indexes in 54.74% of cases. Half of the gynecologists and general practitioners and 55% of the radiologists affirmed that they avoid using Doppler as much as possible to explore the embryo. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of ultrasonography physicians about the biological effects of ultrasound was unsatisfactory in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa and good attitudes to ultrasound safety were not always adopted.