An International analysis of the Educational Requirements to practice InterventionAL radiology (AERIAL)

Introduction Interventional radiology (IR) is one of the highest dose procedures in the radiology department yet great variations in education, training and subsequent practice exist. This variation in knowledge and skills may compromise patient and staff safety. This study aimed to investigate the variation in education, training and scope of practice of radiography staff in IR. Methods Ethical permission was obtained from Ulster University, Belfast, UK. An electronic survey was developed and deployed across Europe with the aid of the European Federation of Radiographers Societies (EFRS) and social media platforms Twitter and LinkedIn. Descriptive statistics (SPSS) and thematic analysis (NVivo) were performed. Results Great variations in education, training and practice occur across countries. Very limited knowledge is given at undergraduate level with even less available at postgraduate level. Most staff appear to learn “on the job” with limited prior training. There is a lack of research performed in IR which hinders development of our evidence-based practice. Conclusion It is necessary to ensure that IR staff develop the necessary knowledge, training and skills to enable them to adopt best practice in IR. Basic anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system should be mandatory at undergraduate level. Further scope for postgraduate training should be developed at post graduate level.