**4. Materials and method**

The study employed both qualitative and quantitative design using a structured interview and descriptive survey. A structured interview involves guiding the interview in a particu‐ lar pattern such that the information received falls in line with the objective of the study without it being altered by the interviewer (Brink and Wood, 1994; Pontin, 2000). A descrip‐ tive survey provides a better means of investigating and assessing the attitude and practices of people when they are involved in a particular situation (Carter, 2000; Gray, 2004).

The study was carried out MRI Suite of the Radiology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. (KBTH), Accra. Ghana. KBTH is the leading referral hospital in Ghana, with the radiology department being one of the busiest departments in the hospital. Currently, the hospital has a bed capacity of about 2000, with an average 1,500 outpatient attendances dai‐ ly, an admission rate of 250 per day and 65% of the daily attendance visiting the radiology department (www.korlebuhospital.org).

The Radiology Department of the hospital has a staff population of forty-six. These include thirty-one radiographers, nine radiology residents and six consultant radiologists. Of the thirty one radiographers, twelve are degree holders, fifteen are diploma holders and the rest are certificate holders.

**5. Results**

response rate of 90.3% (n=28/31).

Male

Female

Total

raphy.

**Table 2.** Demographic Data of the Respondents

This study investigated the availability of safety policies and guidelines and adherence to them by staff at the MRI suite of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. It also investigated the de‐ sign features of the MRI suite as to whether it meets the acceptable safety standards. A total of thirty-one closed ended questionnaires (31) were distributed to all the practicing radiog‐ raphers twenty eight (28) questionnaires were completed and returned completed giving a

The profile above shows that the ratio of male to female respondents was 3:1. Nearly half of

**Figure 1.** Area of work of Respondents. As shown, majority (47%) of Radiographers were engaged in general radiog‐

the respondents (42.9%) were both diploma and degree holders respectively

**Gender of Respondents Certificate Diploma Bachelor's degree**

**Professional qualification held**

Assessment of Safety Standards of Magnetic Resonance Imaging at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital…

2 10 9 21 7.1% 35.7% 32.1% 75.0%

2 2 3 7 7.1% 7.1% 10.7% 25.0%

4 12 12 28 14.3% 42.9% 42.9% 100.0%

**Total**

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/52699

65

The entire population of radiographers was used for the study. This gave a population size that was easy to handle and ensure an effective statistical analysis to be done (Burns and Grove, 2001). Using a small data set makes it possible to overcome the inconveniences creat‐ ed by lack of time, ensures homogeneity, improves the accuracy and quality of the data (At‐ kinson, 2000; Ader*et al.,* 2008). In Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, there are no specialized or permanent MRI radiographers and all of them rotate periodically to the MRI unit; hence the reason for using the entire population of radiographers for the study.

Polgar and Thomas (2000) emphasized that in any scientific research the primary considera‐ tion is the protection of the rights and welfare of participants. Thus, ethical approval was sought from the Ethical Review Committee of the School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Permission was also sought from the Dr. Frank G. Shellock (2002) to reproduce content in his work and from the Institute for Magnetic Reso‐ nance Safety, Education and Research as well as the Radiology Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for the use of facility for the study. Informed consent was sought from participants in the form of written consent forms after the objectives of the study had been explained to them. They were assured of their anonymity, confidentiality of identity and in‐ formation provided.

A self- administered open and closed ended survey questionnaire was used to obtain data from the participants. Before the main study, a pilot study involving three radiographers was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaires. A modified check‐ list designed by Gillies (2002) was attached to the pilot phase for respondents to make sug‐ gestions that helped to modify the questionnaire as required. Ambiguity was thus removed; clarity of the format and design adopted was also ensured (Bailey, 1997).

A structured interview also was conducted with a member of the hospital management. This was to obtain additional data, validate and verify results obtained from the survey (Pol‐ gar and Thomas, 2000). Policy formulation and supervision of implementation is the respon‐ sibility of management of the hospital and the department (Beddoe *et al.,* 2004). Thus interviewing members of the management was considered the best way to obtain detailed and comprehensive information about safety management.

Questions on the framework of operational safety of the MRI unit, training programmes and practical safety problems faced by the MRI unit were among other things asked during the interview. The interview was electronically recorded, transcribed and data grouped into themes and analyzed.

The data obtained from the questionnaires was rearranged in an ordered manner to enhance its processing by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Nominal and ordinal levels of measurement were used because the study design was a descriptive survey (Burns and Grove, 2001). Results were presented using descriptive statistics in the form of charts, frequency tables and percentages.
