ATTITUDES OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS IN PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTIONS TEAMS STAVOVI STUDENATA RADIOLOŠKE TEHNOLOGIJE
Aim: Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death in Croatia, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has emerged as a significant advancement in its treatment. The facilitation of PCI is performed by an interventional team consisting of an interventional cardiologist, a nurse, and a radiologic technologist. In order to achieve precise and efficient intervention outcomes, the radiologic technologist’s role in operating the fluoroscopy is crucial. This study’s aim was to investigate the attitudes of undergraduate professional radiologic technology students at the Faculty of Health Studies in Rijeka regarding the role of the radiologic technologist within the specialist team during PCI and the adequacy of competencies acquired during university education. Materials and methods : The research included students from all three years of regular undergraduate professional studies in radiologic technology, representing diverse demographic characteristics. Data were collected online through a questionnaire developed in Google Forms and analyzed using the Statistica software program. Results : The majority of respondents view the radiologic technologist as essential in the medical team during PCI, with effective communication being emphasized as a crucial element for successful teamwork. However, respondents express a belief that their previous education has not equipped them with adequate knowledge and skills to function com-petently within a PCI team, indicating a perceived need for additional education and professional training. Conclusion : The study shows that radiologic technology students comprehend the significance of radiologic technologists in the interventional team for PCI procedures. However, they express concerns regarding the insufficiency of knowledge and skills acquired during their studies for proficient work in interventional cardiology laboratories.