Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Medical Photography among Postgraduate Students at Makerere University College of Health Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND Medical Photography is concerned with taking images that are beneficial to medical practice. As a specialized area of photography, it entails the documentation of clinical presentation of patients, medical and surgical procedures, medical devices and specimens. This requires specialised training and skills to accomplish the desired outcome. However, due to the increased availability of easy-to-use point and shoot cameras among the population, it is possible to take medical photographs by persons not trained as medical photographers. There was a need therefore, to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical photography among postgraduate at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. METHODOLOGY This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences. Primary data was collected from 141 participants using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from a tool formulated by WHO. Secondary data was obtained from analysing 144 medical photographstaken by post graduates using the tool developed by Tango tools.These photographs were analysed for impact and interest, viewpoint, colour management, composition, technique, manipulation and presentation. RESULTS The majority of the participants were aged 30 and below 48.2%, male 66% and offered general surgery 26.2% as a study program. Only 39% of the participants were knowledgeable about medical photography. However, 81.6% had heard about medical photography and 56.7% knew people who practiced medical photography.The majority of participants 78% had a positive attitude towards medical photographs while69.5% felt that they could take quality medical photographs.Only 13.5% of the participants took their own medical photographs and 81.6% reported mobile phone as the most frequently used equipment.Theavailability of quality medical photographs was a challenge among81.6%of the participants. The photographs analysed revealed that 77.8% were snapshots and photograph quality was affected by framing decisions and post shoot manipulation. x CONCLUSION The majority of participants were exposed to medical photography directly through active involvement or indirectly through passive observation.Participants perceived medical photographsto beimportant but were not readily available. Choice of equipment and its use affected the medical photography process.