To compare clinical radiography training experiences (structure, resources, participation, feedback) and self-perceived competence/practice readiness between public and private radiography centres in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Comparative cross-sectional survey design from August to October 2025 using a validated self-administered questionnaire distributed in person during departmental seminars and clinical debriefings at University of Lagos-affiliated centres.

Centre-based settings at public and private radiodiagnostic centres.

A total of 260 final-year students and recent graduates, 130 each from public and private radiodiagnostic centres. Inclusion criteria included: age ≥18 years, with ≥6 months clinical exposure, from centres affiliated to the University of Lagos. All participants completed the self-administered questionnaire. There were no interventions.

The primary outcome was the self-perceived competence/practice readiness, and the secondary was participation, extent and feedback mechanisms, measured as planned without protocol deviations. All variables were measured using validated items in the questionnaire.

Private centres significantly outperformed public centres in hands-on practice and feedback, with higher self-perceived competence (mean 35.6±5.7 vs 32.8±6.4; p=0.001). There were no significant differences in training structure (p=0.78). Public centres reported higher patient loads (86.2% vs 68.5%; p=0.001) but lower equipment availability (47.7% vs 72.3%; p

Private centres were associated with higher self-perceived competence and readiness, better resources and feedback, while public centres offered greater patient volumes. Hybrid placements and targeted infrastructure investment are recommended to help address disparities in perceived readiness.

Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, remains a significant public health issue in Ukraine, characterised by low human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates and systemic healthcare challenges exacerbated by the ongoing war. To improve the situation with HPV vaccination, understanding the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs) is crucial.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness and clinical practices of Ukrainian HCPs regarding HPV, HPV-related diseases and vaccination. It sought to identify their readiness to recommend vaccination, the barriers they face and the impact of the full-scale Russia–Ukrainian war on these aspects.

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) framework. Data were collected through 12 focus group discussions, 10 in-depth semistructured interviews and short questionnaires with 60 HCPs (gynaecologists, paediatricians, general practitioners, nurses and key decision-makers) across four macroregions of Ukraine in July 2023. A descriptive thematic analysis was performed on the transcribed data.

The study found support for HPV vaccination among HCPs, who recognise it as a critical cancer prevention tool. However, significant barriers impede its implementation. These include organisational challenges like the vaccine’s high cost and non-mandatory status, professional issues such as knowledge gaps and prevalent misconceptions (eg, belief in natural immunity, doubts about vaccine safety), particularly among non-gynaecological specialists, and low public awareness of the HPV–cancer link. The war has intensified these barriers by shifting priorities and disrupting services, yet it has also paradoxically increased vaccine awareness among Ukrainians who have been abroad.

The successful rollout of Ukraine’s national HPV vaccination programme requires a comprehensive strategy. Merely adding the vaccine to the schedule is insufficient. It must be accompanied by robust state funding to ensure it is free, a large-scale public information campaign to combat misinformation and raise awareness and targeted continuing medical education to close knowledge gaps and empower HCPs to recommend the vaccine confidently.