Examining the Relationship Between Radiographic Positioning Training Methods and Skill Retention Among Radiography Students in South West Nigeria

Radiographic positioning is a core psychomotor competency in radiography education, and the comparative effectiveness of different training modalities, including simulation-based, peer-assisted, and traditional supervisor-directed positioning training, in promoting skill retention over time has not been empirically examined in Nigerian radiography education contexts. This study examines the relationship between positioning training method type and skill retention among radiography students in South West Nigeria. A quasi-experimental longitudinal design is applied to 150 second-year radiography students at three universities in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States, randomly assigned to simulation-based (n=50), peer-assisted (n=50), and conventional supervisor-directed (n=50) positioning training groups for a standardised lumbar spine positioning curriculum unit. Positioning skill is assessed using validated OSCE instruments at immediate post-training, four-week, and eight-week follow-up intervals. Mixed ANOVA in SPSS evaluates between-group skill retention differences over time. Available radiography simulation education literature from South West Nigerian universities identifies simulation-based training as associated with higher initial skill acquisition but limited long-term retention data relative to conventional approaches. The Skill Acquisition Theory by Fitts and Posner and the Social Learning Theory provide the theoretical framework. Findings are expected to reveal group differences in skill retention trajectories that have not been previously documented in Nigerian radiography education research. Recommendations address evidence-based training method selection for positioning curricula and simulation equipment investment at South West Nigeria radiography programmes. Keywords: positioning training, skill retention, radiography education, quasi-experimental, South West Nigeria.