Evaluation of radiological imaging practices and challenges in disability assessment in Saudi Arabia

About 1.35 million people, or 5.1% of the population, in Saudi Arabia have a disability. The most common types of disabilities are mobility, vision, and communication problems. Achieving ideal radiological image quality for this population is tough since it is hard to communicate, position patients, and encourage them to cooperate during imaging operations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) concerning the utilization of radiological imaging in disability assessment and rehabilitation among medical students, faculty, and healthcare personnel. A cross-sectional survey was performed utilizing a standardized questionnaire to evaluate demographic factors and KAP levels. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to look at the scores. The Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to look at differences between men and women, jobs, and regions. There were 649 participants in all, 342 of whom (52.7%) were women and 307 of whom (47.3%) were men. The majority of respondents (487; 75%) were aged 18–29 years, and medical students represented 482 (74.3%) of the sample. The average score for knowledge was 4.62 ± 2.39 (out of 8), the average score for attitude was 11.52 ± 2.47 (out of 15), and the average score for practice was 5.73 ± 2.803 (out of 10). In all areas, men scored much higher than women (p < 0.001). Faculty members exhibited markedly superior knowledge scores in comparison to students and staff (p < 0.001), however no significant occupational disparities were noted in attitude or practice scores (p > 0.05). Participants from the North exhibited the greatest knowledge and attitude scores (p < 0.001), whereas those from the South demonstrated the highest practice scores (p = 0.004). Participants had a good attitude toward using radiological imaging to evaluate disabilities, but their knowledge and practice levels were average. Therefore, improving awareness and practical skills in radiological imaging will ultimately enhance the quality of disability assessment and rehabilitation planning.