Assessment of undergraduates nursing students' knowledge toward MRI safety: Cross-sectional study

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been traditionally regarded as a relatively safe imaging modality due to the absence of ionizing radiation. However, considerable immediate safety risks are intrinsic to the MRI environment, necessitating comprehensive awareness and training among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, who accompany their patients to the MRI department in most cases. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness of MRI safety issues among nursing students within the nursing faculty at Jazan University (JU). Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey encompassing 128 undergraduate nursing students was conducted. A structured questionnaire comprising 25 questions was employed and classified into three sections, encompassing demographic data and MRI safety awareness. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and frequencies and percentages of responses were calculated and summarized. Results: Of the 128 participants, 111 were females, and 17 were males, distributed across the 2nd (41%), 3rd (20%), and 4th (39%) academic years. Participants exhibited a commendable grasp of MRI contraindications related to ferromagnetic materials such as oxygen cylinders and metal needles. However, their knowledge concerning the operational aspects of MRI, such as examination duration, was found to be lacking, indicating a significant deficiency in comprehension regarding the operational aspects of MRI technology. Conclusion: This study highlights the relatively high level of awareness regarding MRI safety among nursing students at JU. However, the identified lack of knowledge pertaining to the operational aspects of MRI technology emphasizes the need for further education and training in this area. To address this gap, we recommend the establishment of comprehensive MRI safety courses and training programs customized for undergraduate nursing students.