Awareness of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery among Clinical Years' Medical Students and Health care Service Providers at Jordan University Hospital

Abstract

Background

This study aims to assess the level of awareness of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS), its indications, possible complications, and financial cost among fourth, fifth, and sixth-year medical students, interns, residents, and specialists at the Jordan University Hospital (JUH).

Materials and Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire, prepared by a neurosurgeon who is experienced in GKRS, was sent to our sample population: fourth, fifth, and sixth-year medical students, interns, residents, and specialists at the JUH. The questionnaire has two parts: the first was about demographics, and the second was about indications, complications, cost, availability of GKRS in Jordan, and its coverage by public health insurance. Only those who had heard about GKRS were allowed to participate in the second part of the study. The study was terminated at the accrual of 451 completed surveys.

Results

Around two-thirds of the respondents had heard about GKRS. When asked about possible indications for GKRS, the most commonly agreed-upon indications were vestibular schwannoma (222/286), meningioma (217/286), brain metastases (210/286), and brain cavernoma (176/286). On the other hand, diabetes (267/286), arterial hypertension (259/286), migraine (228/286), and depression (214/286) were the most common diseases that were not believed to be possible indications. Regarding side effects, most respondents (67% and 58%, respectively) agreed that dizziness is a common complication, while a permanent neurological deficit is a rare complication. Almost all respondents believed that GKRS is available in Jordan. In total, 44.8% believed it costs less than 10,000 Jordanian Dinar (JD). About public health insurance coverage, 53.1% believe that GKRS is covered by it.

Conclusion

The respondents' awareness of the gamma knife technology is quite poor, which emphasizes the importance of increasing their exposure to this technology during clinical rotations, modifying the teaching plan to include lectures introducing this content, and directing scientific research towards this technology.

Keywords

gamma knife - awareness - radiosurgery - neurosurgery - clinical rotations

Publication History

Received: 21 September 2024

Accepted: 17 February 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
19 March 2025

Article published online:
29 April 2025

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