A study conducted at Brazzaville University Hospital in July 2025 assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical interns regarding radiotherapy for prostate cancer. The hospital's radiotherapy facility has been out of service since 2015, limiting access to this crucial treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to evaluate the interns' understanding of radiotherapy, as they will be future prescribers. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from 80 participating interns.
The study found that the dominant representations associated radiotherapy with side effects, cost, and radiation. Only 46.3% of interns demonstrated good knowledge of radiotherapy, 47.5% showed good attitudes, and 30.0% exhibited good practices. Seniority was the only factor significantly associated with knowledge. The interns' limited exposure to practical training and the lack of a functional radiotherapy facility were identified as major barriers to their understanding of radiotherapy.
The study involved 80 medical interns, with a mean age of 25.9 years and a sex ratio of 1.5. A pre-tested, standardized questionnaire based on AFU recommendations was used to collect data on sociodemographic factors, representations, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The questionnaire consisted of 33 items for knowledge, 21 items for attitudes, and 8 items for practices. The scores were classified as good or poor.
The results showed that nearly 87.5% of interns did not wish to specialize in radiotherapy, primarily due to a lack of interest or fear of radiation. The study's findings highlight the need for improved training and practical experience in radiotherapy for medical interns. The absence of a functional radiotherapy facility and limited practical training opportunities hinder the development of competent physicians.
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of prostate cancer treatment, but access is extremely limited in sub-Saharan Africa. The Brazzaville University Hospital's radiotherapy facility has been out of service since 2015, exacerbating the challenge. The study emphasizes the importance of restoring the radiotherapy service and integrating mandatory practical rotations to train competent physicians.
The study's authors suggest that the rehabilitation of the radiotherapy service and the integration of practical training are essential to improve prostate cancer care in Congo. The findings also underscore the need for policymakers to address the shortage of radiotherapy services in sub-Saharan Africa. The study's results have implications for medical education and training programs in the region.
The study's limitations include its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data. However, the findings provide valuable insights into the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical interns regarding radiotherapy for prostate cancer in Brazzaville. The study's results can inform the development of targeted interventions to improve the training of medical interns and enhance prostate cancer care in the region.
Key points
- Medical interns in Brazzaville have insufficient knowledge and attitudes, and very poor practices, in radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
- The lack of a functional radiotherapy facility and practical training opportunities hinders the development of competent physicians.
- Restoring the radiotherapy service and integrating mandatory practical rotations are essential to train competent physicians and improve prostate cancer care in Congo.
