Background: Interventional radiology (IR) is a growing field with wide applications. However, awareness of IR is limited, especially among medical students and particularly in developing countries where its practice is deficient. Purpose: To assess and compare knowledge, awareness, and interest in IR among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, a developing country where the practice of IR faces many challenges, including the 2023 war. It also provides an update regarding IR practice and training in Sudan and a review of relevant literature, and serves to improve awareness and interest in IR. Methods: A cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. A multi-section online questionnaire assessed the subjective and objective knowledge about IR and the participants' interest and views regarding its introduction to the undergraduate program. Data were analyzed using Excel (Microsoft Office) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, IBM). Results: One hundred eighty-one students were included. 59.7% were females, and 60.2% were in preclinical years. 75.1% subjectively reported poor or no knowledge about IR. A total of 71.8% suggested mixed surgical and radiological IR training. Students' awareness of IR names, advantages, procedures, and roles is reported. Students' knowledge and awareness were found to be lacking. Only 13.8% were considering a career in IR. Conclusion: IR practice in Sudan is deficient, especially after the war. Although their awareness was inadequate, students showed an interest in learning more about IR. IR knowledge and exposure need to be improved, but the introduction of IR and other advanced subspecialties to undergraduate curricula requires more research and attention by medical education specialists.
Almahi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.