Abstract:
Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can induce vertigo in patients undergoing such examinations.
The severity of the vertigo is thought to increase with higher magnetic field strengths and
could cause a patient to fall.
The study assessed the awareness levels on MRI-induced vertigo among a cohort of MRI radiographers
and their perspectives on the care that should be administered to patients post MRI examinations.
Methods: The study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional research design and a questionnaire. Out of a
total of 40 MRI-radiographers identified nationwide, 31 participated in the study. Statistical Package for
Social Sciences v.21.0 was used to analyse the data.
Results: Most participants (n ¼ 21, 67.7%) were aware of MRI-induced vertigo. Many knew that patients
(able and weaker) need to be assisted off the couch (n ¼ 28, 90.3%) and escorted to the changing rooms
post MRI examinations (n ¼ 31,100%). There were statistically significant associations between the size of
magnetic field strength used by the participants and their level of awareness about MRI-induced vertigo
(r ¼ 0.691, p ¼ 0.003), appreciation of the needed support for patients post MRI examinations (r ¼ 0.530,
p ¼ 0.041) and the frequency of occurrence of MRI-induced vertigo among their patients (r ¼ 0.530,
p ¼ 0.001).
Conclusion: The radiographers were mostly cognisant of MRI-induced vertigo and the supported care
they were supposed to administer to their patients. The size of magnetic field strength used by the
participants correlated with their level of awareness about MRI-induced vertigo and their appreciation of
the needed support for patients post MRI examinations.
Implication for practice: The study highlights the need for a refresher training to expand the knowledgebase
of a few of the radiographers who were not very cognisant about MRI-induced vertigo.
© 2020 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.