Phenomena of radiography science - A scoping review

Perspective of radiography science - a document analysis of dissertations

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to clarify the perspective of radiography science as an academic discipline. A discipline can be studied by discovering the collective use of concepts, especially core concepts. We have previously identified the core concepts as clinical practices in radiography, radiographers' profession, safe and high-quality radiation use, and technology in radiography. The relationships between these concepts have not been studied previously. In order to clarify the perspective of radiography science we have investigated further the core concepts, their interrelationships and interdependencies.

METHODS

Altogether, 53 dissertations meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for a qualitative document analysis. The data were first analysed deductively using an extraction matrix comprising four core concepts developed from previous studies, then relational statements were synthesised, and the statements were analysed semantically.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed the bilateral interrelationships between the concepts and their dependencies. All the concepts were used within healthcare. The rationale for radiography science research was the clinical practice of radiography and the improvement of services in a complex environment as a part of patients' pathways. Safe and high-quality radiation use was investigated as a means to deliver optimal services. Technology was studied as being functional or a means to deliver services. The perspective of the discipline was seen as the combination of humanistic interaction with advanced technology, where safety and quality were a necessity.

CONCLUSIONS

Defining core concepts and their interrelations clarifies the perspective of the discipline and gives radiography researchers a way to argue their viewpoint.

Alumni, radiographers, clinical placement tutors and industry insights about current radiographers practice, competences and autonomy in western Switzerland

INTRODUCTION

Radiographers' profession is constantly evolving, which demands adaptation of education and training programs to build up medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals (MIRTPs) that provide healthcare to improve patient experience and outcomes. This study aimed to map radiographers' practices, competences, and autonomy level in Western Switzerland.

METHODS

Data was collected by 2 cross-sectional online surveys targeting Alumni, radiographers, clinical placement tutors and medical imaging equipment specialists from industry, with opened and closed-end questions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

81 Alumni and 93 Chief-Radiographers, clinical tutors, practitioner-radiographers and industry answered the questionnaires. The competences considered as the most "acquired or completely acquired" by the Alumni were: adopt a reflective posture on practice (90.1 %; 73/81), adopt ethical behaviour (90.1 %; 73/81), carrying out and providing radiological services for diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive purposes (81.5 %; 68/81), adapting communication to the other surrounding persons (81.5 %; 66/81), and check compliance of procedures with standards (69.1 %; 56/81). Similar results were referred by Employers. The autonomy of the participant radiographers was considered as average, and it focuses only the preparation of the patient and the protocol optimisation. The development and integration of research is weak as well as the application of competences regarding professionalism.

CONCLUSIONS

A better link between educational institutions and clinical practice can help on the integration of research and evidence-based on practice, necessary to progress the radiographers' profession in Western Switzerland. The autonomy needs to be further developed and leadership courses must be integrated in the curricula to facilitate the implementation of new approaches to reinforce radiographer's profession.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Practice must be revised to integrate evidence-based; to facilitate research development, the managers need to increase support.

Radiography-An etymological and semantic concept analysis from the perspective of radiographic science

INTRODUCTION

Concepts are cornerstones in science, and their determination is a prerequisite for understanding their substance and meaning. Radiography as a concept is not straightforward nor simple to understand, and there are different interpretations depending on the scientific perspective. To develop truthful knowledge of radiography from the perspective of the discipline, a determination of the subject and substance of radiography is required and thereby is a precursor for theory development. The aim of this study was to investigate the etymological and semantic meaning of radiography from the radiography science perspective.

METHODS

An etymological and semantic analysis has been applied according to Koort and Eriksson's theoretical model. Dictionaries published between 2004 and 2021 were used.

RESULTS

The findings show that etymologically, radiography is formed by compounding the words 'radio' and 'graphy', originating historically from Latin and Greek. The semantic analysis revealed that the substance of radiography consisted of four characteristics that are the basic substance of radiography. The characteristics were X-ray and radiation, human beings-opaque objects, process including an act and art and images.

CONCLUSION

This study clarifies the substance and meaning of radiography as a subject from the perspective of radiography science. The subject and substance consisted of the four basic characteristics that all are vital and required to understand the concept of radiography. The characteristics revealed that radiography science is based on scientific knowledge and carrier of properties of meaning that provide a fundamental understanding of radiography science.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Investigating the subject, substance and meaning of radiography as a concept can become the base for further theoretical, contextual and practical understanding and support in the development of theory in radiography science.

A personal journey to build leadership skills through collaboration to support radiography research and evidence-based practice

Introduction

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact on how radiotherapy is delivered, how staff do their job and how patients are cared for. Part of the UK NHS response to the covid-19 crisis was to accelerate final year radiotherapy students into work as therapeutic radiographers. The study objective is to explore the experiences of a cohort of new registrants who started work in May 2020.

Methods

In depth interviews were conducted remotely with newly qualified therapeutic radiography registrants regarding their first 12 months working in UK NHS cancer centres. Data were analysed within and across cases using a framework analysis and synthesised thematically.

Results

Eleven radiographers were interviewed, working across six different sites. Key generated themes are the risk of impaired professional socialisation due to incongruence between students’ expectations and the reality in clinical departments. We use Bridges Transitional Model to show how a combination of the disrupted/undefined end to university and a perceived lack of recognition of professional knowledge, skills and values evident in our data may leave participants stuck in a middle stage of the transition process. Slower than expected professional development led to demotivation, which was also associated with rising covid-19 case numbers.

Conclusion

The covid-19 pandemic accentuated and heightened the existing challenge of professional integration and socialisation faced by new therapeutic radiography staff. Demotivation and potentially attrition are more likely in this environment. Compassionate leadership that fosters the mentorship of junior cohorts as part of a flexible preceptorship package could mitigate these risks.

Identification of research priorities of radiography science: A modified Delphi study in Europe

Radiography science is a new discipline among health sciences. It is a discipline that investigates phenomena in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine. It has merged from the need to provide research evidence to support these services. The domain of the discipline needs clarification and more research should be focused on its paradigmatic issues. Radiography research priorities have been previously charted on a national level in different countries but the viewpoint has been that of the needs of the profession, not of the discipline. This study aimed to identify the priorities of the discipline. The method chosen was a modified version of the Delphi technique with two rounds. The expert panel consisted of 24 European radiography researchers with long professional experience. This study shows that the research priorities in radiography science are related to the phenomena of radiographers' profession, clinical practices, and the safe and high-quality use of radiation and technology for medical imaging, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine. Identifying these priorities can help focus research onto most important topics and clarify disciplinary perspective.