AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY PROCEDURES AMONG GENERAL PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Interventional Radiology (IR) has emerged as an important subspecialty that offers minimally invasive image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Despite rapid advancements, awareness and utilization of IR services among referring clinicians remain variable, potentially limiting patient access to these procedures. Aim: To assess the awareness, knowledge, referral practices, and perceptions regarding Interventional Radiology procedures among general physicians and surgeons working in tertiary care hospitals. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted over six months (June 2025 to January 2026) among 220 general physicians and surgeons employed in tertiary care teaching hospitals. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. A validated, structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, awareness of IR procedures, referral practices, previous exposure to IR, perceived barriers, and educational needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 220 participants, 128 (58.2%) were physicians and 92 (41.8%) were surgeons. Overall awareness regarding IR was moderate (71.4%), whereas only 46.8% demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding available procedures and indications. Nearly 52.3% had referred patients for IR procedures at least once during the preceding year. Physicians with previous academic exposure to IR showed significantly higher awareness scores than those without exposure (p<0.001). The major barriers identified were inadequate knowledge (68.6%), limited interaction with interventional radiologists (55.0%), uncertainty regarding referral criteria (49.1%), and lack of institutional awareness programs (46.4%). Conclusion: Although awareness of Interventional Radiology is reasonably good among physicians and surgeons, detailed knowledge and referral practices remain suboptimal. Regular Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs, multidisciplinary meetings, and structured undergraduate and postgraduate teaching may significantly improve appropriate utilization of IR services.