Improvements in staff competency levels will be more important in the future, as a result of the forecasted increase in the percentage of the population who will suffer from dementia and reside in nursing homes.

In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medical imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis, management and disease progression surveillance. Chest radiography and computed tomography are commonly used imaging techniques globally during this pandemic. As the pandemic continues to unfold, many healthcare systems worldwide struggle to balance the heavy strain due to overwhelming demand for healthcare resources. Changes are required across the entire healthcare system and medical imaging departments are no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on medical imaging practices. It is now time to pay further attention to the profound challenges of COVID-19 on medical imaging services and develop effective strategies to get ahead of the crisis. Additionally, preparation for operations and survival in the post-pandemic future are necessary considerations. This review aims to comprehensively examine the challenges and optimization of delivering medical imaging services in relation to the current COVID-19 global pandemic, including the role of medical imaging during these challenging times and potential future directions post-COVID-19.

ObjectivesThe objective was to assess the knowledge of radiation dose and of the associated risks with ionising imaging examinations of medical students in their final year of training prior to graduating.MethodsAn online questionnaire was sent to all final year medical students from two universities. The questionnaire consisted of radiation dose and risk related questions, with multiple choices, only one of these choices was the correct answer. A ‘correct’ answer was given one mark and no mark was given for ‘incorrect/do not know’ answers. The total mean score ranged from 0 to 11, with higher scores representing greater knowledge about radiation doses and the associated risks.ResultsNinety-nine students completed and returned the questionnaire yielding a response rate of 45%. The total mean score was 3.91 out of possible 11. Only eighteen students scored more than five points (50%). Students who reported moderate confidence in their knowledge about radiation dose and risks, scored significantly higher than students who reported no confidence (p = 0.003). There was a moderate positive correlation between students that reported moderate confidence and radiation knowledge scores (rho = .301, p = .002).ConclusionOverall medical students’ knowledge of radiation dose and the risks associated with ionising imaging examinations was reported to be low.Main messages• Medical students’ knowledge about radiation and associated risk is poor • Students are not aware of radiation doses for common radiological procedures • The majority of students underestimated radiation doses for specific examinations • Students with confidence reported greater knowledge than students with no confidence