Establishing interventional radiology in a low-resource setting: Lessons from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Nigeria Journal Article
| Authors: | Omisore, A. D.; Odedeyi, A. A.; Famurewa, O. C.; Aderibigbe, A. S.; Akinsulore, R. Y.; Adeyemi, F. M.; Adisa, A. F.; Orji, E. C.; Ayeni, A. I.; Towoju, A. G.; Mango, V. L.; Bryce, Y.; Omoyiola, O. Z.; Edelweiss, M.; Dako, F.; Alatise, O. I.; Kingham, P. T.; Sutton, E. J. |
| Article Title: | Establishing interventional radiology in a low-resource setting: Lessons from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Nigeria |
| Abstract: | PURPOSE The introduction of an interventional radiology (IR) unit at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in 2017 marked a significant advancement in health care delivery in a low-resource setting in Nigeria. This study documents the processes, milestones, services, challenges, innovations, and collaborations that have supported the establishment of an IR unit.METHODSWe conducted an institutional review board-approved retrospective case study using archival data from the service records (2017-2024). To supplement our findings, we distributed a structured survey to 51 referring clinicians using Google Forms, with a 100% response rate. We analyzed the data descriptively using Microsoft Excel.RESULTSThe establishment of the IR unit in the OAUTHC was driven by structured training, international collaborations, and innovative solutions to overcome infrastructural limitations. The unit began with breast intervention services and was expanded to offer diverse ultrasound- and computed tomography-guided body intervention services. Breast biopsies (31.4%) and liver biopsies (23.5%) constituted the majority of IR referrals. Survey respondents (78.4%; 40 of 51) acknowledged the significant impact of IR services in reducing the need for invasive surgeries, with 84.3% (43 of 51) suggesting the need for increased procedure availability to address long waiting times. Despite challenges such as limited procedural options (56.9%) and long waiting times (41.2%), clinicians rated the IR unit's contributions to patient care as very important (41.2%) or moderately important (52.9%). Key lessons include the importance of structured training programs, leveraging international partnerships to overcome resource gaps, and implementing adaptive strategies to meet local needs.CONCLUSIONThe IR unit transformed patient care at the OAUTHC. This is a replicable model for building sustainable IR programs in other Nigerian hospitals and low-resource settings. © American Society of Clinical Oncology. |
| Keywords: | controlled study; retrospective studies; major clinical study; computer assisted tomography; retrospective study; patient care; radiology; interventional radiology; radiology, interventional; university hospital; liver biopsy; health care delivery; health care planning; patient referral; breast biopsy; health resources; nigeria; procedures; clinician; hospitals, teaching; teaching hospital; hospitals, university; humans; human; female; article |
| Journal Title: | JCO Global Oncology |
| Volume: | 11 |
| ISSN: | 2687-8941 |
| Publisher: | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| Date Published: | 2025-07-01 |
| Start Page: | e2400637 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1200/go-24-00637 |
| PUBMED: | 40591901 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PMCID: | PMC12312414 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- Source: Scopus |
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