KNOWLEDGE, PERCEPTION AND PRACTICES OF HEALTHCARE STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS ON AUDIOLOGY SERVICES AT BUGANDO MEDICAL CENTRE, NORTHWEST TANZANIA.
Open Access
Journal Type:Research Article
Subject:Medicine, Health & Food
Subject Field:Otorhinolaryngology
Volume:136, Issue: 1, November, 2023
Publish Date:November 12, 2023 7:00 pm
Pages:172-185
Download:505
Views:588
Abstract
This study aimed to assess level of knowledge, perception and practices of audiology services Bugando Medical Centre Methods: A structured self-assessment questionnaire was administered to 322 participants, including 160 healthcare students and 162 healthcare professionals. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data recorded. Results: The majority of participants, both healthcare students (91.25%) and professionals (95.06%), believed that healthcare students should receive more training in audiology services. A significant portion of participants (53.8% of students and 53.7% of professionals) were not up-to-date with the latest audiology developments. Additionally, participants had varying referral patterns: 28.5% referred patients for audiology services always, 24.1% sometimes, and 24.5% often. Most participants supported the idea of allocating more resources to audiology services at Bugando Medical Centre, with 88.75% of healthcare students and 91.97% of healthcare professionals in agreement. Discussion: The results underscore a consensus among healthcare students and professionals regarding the importance of audiology services, the need for enhanced training, and the significance of service improvement.it emphasized the importance of inter professional collaboration to optimize audiological care. Conclusion: This research highlights the critical role of audiology services at Bugando Medical Centre and the unanimous belief among healthcare students and professionals in the necessity for more training and service enhancement. Addressing disparities in referral practices and strengthening collaboration among healthcare disciplines are essential for enhancing audiology services at Bugando Medical Centre, ensuring accessibility and high-quality care. Keywords: audiology services, healthcare students, healthcare professionals, knowledge, perception, practices, Bugando Medical Centre