Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences最新文献

Introduction

As the global demand for radiography services increases, departments need to be aware of the environmental impact of their practices and strive to reduce their carbon footprint. However, sustainability in radiography, particularly in low-resource settings, remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, practices, and barriers to sustainability in radiography practice among radiographers in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Methods

A quantitative cross-sectional study involving 216 consecutively sampled radiographers who completed an online questionnaire was conducted. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis.

Results

Overall, 81.49 % of the radiographers had some familiarity with the concept of sustainability. The radiography educational curriculum was singled out as lacking sufficient content on sustainability (44.44 %). More than half of the radiographers reported the absence of deliberate sustainable practices in place in their respective departments (Zambia 51.02 %, Zimbabwe 54.69 %). The top reported barriers to sustainability include; a lack of priority for sustainability from leadership and organization (73.61 %), a lack of incentives for sustainability (75.46 %), and a lack of partnerships between suppliers and consumers on ways to improve diagnosis, patient safety and sustainability (82.4 %).

Conclusion

This study offers valuable insights into the current state of sustainability in radiography in Zambia and Zimbabwe, highlighting the need for academic reforms, intentional departmental practices, and systemic changes to drive sustainable efforts in the field. Future research should aim to enhance the sustainability of radiographic examinations and procedures, thereby advancing the core practice of radiographers.

Background

Patients with dementia frequently present to the Radiology Department. However, stigmas have been recorded amongst radiographers surrounding imaging persons with dementia (PwD). This study aimed to investigate the impact of PwD attending the Radiology Department for imaging and the resultant effects to all patients, radiographers, and the Department from the perspectives of the examining radiographer.

Methods

A paper-based questionnaire of radiographers’ perceptions and experiences of individual examinations ‘termed an interaction form’ was created and made available in a public hospital in Ireland for a period of eight weeks. Radiographers completed the interaction form collecting data regarding individual imaging examinations of PwD. The form comprised sixteen closed and one open-ended question on the radiographers’ individual perspectives of PwDs’ abilities and distress levels, carers and comforters and their role in the examination, what the radiographer found helpful in the interaction, and any adverse events. Data were analysed using a combination of descriptive analysis and thematic content analysis.

Results

Thirty-three interaction forms were completed by the participating radiographers. The modality most commonly represented in the survey was general X-ray (58%). Radiographers reported 84% of examinations for PwD required extra time, with 27% of examinations required repeat imaging and 69% of patients appeared distressed. A carer helped facilitate the completion of 77% of examinations. Qualitative data indicated that distractive and communicative techniques were used by radiographers to make the patient feel more comfortable and help with examination success.

Conclusion

PwD often require more time for radiological examinations, they often need repeat imaging and re-scheduling of an examination at a more appropriate time. These factors need to be considered when scheduling and performing radiological examinations. Patient distress was frequently encountered, this area may benefit from further research and dedicated practitioner training which could help drive improvements in patient experience.

Introduction

Healthcare professions differ from each other, therefore need different approaches in teaching clinical practices. While teaching and learning designs for medical students are widely present on databases, few information is available for radiographers. The aim of this research is to define tools and knowledge needed to develop successful tutor-training programs that can be cross-cutting and inter-disciplinary for radiography profession, taking inspiration from other healthcare professions’ programs since the paucity of evidence for radiographers.

Methods

A systematic review (PubMed/Embase) was performed according to the PRISMA checklist. Original articles on learning environment related to healthcare practitioners were included. Inclusion criteria comprehended articles covering design and frameworks of peer-assisted-learning (PAL) programs and training-the-trainer (TTT) curricula, skills required to become tutors, tips to install successful tutor-training programs along with benefits for tutors involved. From 1618 retrieved articles, after two selection rounds, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results

Out of the 15 articles, none is addressed to radiographers and only 7 % (1/15) to other healthcare professions, opposed to the 93 % (14/15) addressed to medical students. All articles discuss feedback providing, 66 % (10/15) debates which the best behaviour to maintain towards students is to maximize learning, and 46 % (7/15) inform about the importance of briefing and de-briefing activities. An identical percentage (46 %, 7/15) underlines the advantages of tutoring experiences. 11 articles (73 %) enhance that tutors aren't adequately trained to carry out tutoring activities.

Discussion

Through curricula designed on TTT and PAL programs, radiographers are provided with necessary teachings and frameworks to set up effective training paths. Few institutes promote educational tutor-training courses, even though these are beneficial both for tutors and students, consolidating professionals’ knowledge and maximizing students’ practical skills.

Conclusion

Offering tutor-training curricula contributes to the development of radiographers as teachers, providing them with guiding principles to improve their formative skills towards future colleagues, therefore optimizing efficacy and effectiveness of programs.

Purpose/Objective

To determine the impact of a MR-based contouring atlas for male pelvis radiotherapy delineation on inter-observer variation to support radiographer led real-time magnetic resonance image guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART).

Material/Methods

Eight RTTs contoured 25 MR images in the Monaco treatment planning system (Monaco 5.40.01), from 5 patients. The prostate, seminal vesicles, bladder, and rectum were delineated before and after the introduction of an atlas developed through multi-disciplinary consensus.

Inter-observer contour variations (volume), time to contour and observer contouring confidence were determined at both time-points using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse both continuous and categorical variables. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Dice-Jaccard coefficient (DJC) and Hausdorff distance were used to calculate similarity between observers.

Results

Although variation in volume definition decreased for all structures among all observers post intervention, the change was not statistically significant. DSC and DJC measurements remained consistent following the introduction of the atlas for all observers. The highest similarity was found in the bladder and prostate whilst the lowest was the seminal vesicles. The mean contouring time for all observers was reduced by 50% following the introduction of the atlas (53 to 27 minutes, p=0.01). For all structures across all observers, the mean contouring confidence increased significantly from 2.3 to 3.5 out of 5 (p=0.02).

Conclusion

Although no significant improvements were observed in contour variation amongst observers, the introduction of the consensus-based contouring atlas improved contouring confidence and speed; key factors for a real-time RTT-led MRgART.

Introduction

Various national solutions have been considered and implemented to address the factors which limit radiographer engagement in conducting research. Nevertheless, national literature continues to suggest that radiographer engagement in research remains low. The aim of this study was to extend the existing evidence base by conducting an international survey to assess diagnostic radiographers and therapeutic radiographers involvement with, barriers to and support mechanisms for research.

Methods

Data collection was obtained via an online questionnaire which was distributed by the International Society of Radiographers and Radiologic Technologists (ISRRT). The study population included an international sample of qualified diagnostic radiographers and therapeutic radiographers across clinical and academic contexts in a variety of different roles such as clinical practice, management, education and research.

Results

In total, 420 diagnostic radiographers and therapeutic radiographers completed the survey. Multiple reasons were identified that were considered to inhibit respondents from conducting research. 69.3% indicated a combination of reasons for lack of engagement with research, rather than one single issue. Examples of reasons include: lack of time, insufficient research funding, limited research expertise, and lack of a suitable mentorship scheme.

Conclusion

A minor segment of survey respondents indicated involvement in research activity. Lack of dedicated time to research, mentors, and funding were among the main barriers to conduct research. Further research is required to explore what solutions are available to overcoming the barriers.

Background

Breast cancer that has a high mortality rate is now known to decrease due to early detection with the advent of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT or 3D tomosynthesis) screening, especially in those with dense breasts. The risk of breast cancer related to 'changes' in breast density over time remains controversial as breast density and age have an inverse relationship. Breast density as an independent risk factor for breast cancer is known, but its association with menopausal status, if any, has not been studied thoroughly.

Method

All patients referred for 3D mammography with breast lesions from June 2022 to January 2023 were considered. Patients were categorized as pre-, peri, and post-menopausal, and each category was further sub-classified based on the breast density as either dense or non-dense and the lesion type, whether benign or malignant. The Statistical analysis was performed using a chi-square test to evaluate whether any association exists between malignancy and menopausal status.

Result

A total of 60 patients, with 20 in each category of menopausal stage, were imaged and evaluated. 35% of women had non-dense breasts, while 65% had dense breast parenchyma. Breast density and lesion type were associated significantly (p-value = 0.05) where, out of the 23 benign lesions, 48% occurred in dense women, and 52% in non-dense women respectively. In our study, both benign (N = 7) and malignant (N = 13) lesions occurred in equal numbers in the pre-and peri‑ menopausal women, whereas the number of benign and malignant lesions in the post-menopausal women were 9 (45%) and 11 (55%), respectively. Even though no statistically significant association was found between menopausal status and malignancy in our study, out of the 37 malignant lesions, a majority (76%) of lesions occurred in those having dense breasts (N = 28).

Conclusion

Earlier, the notion was that older women had a higher risk of breast cancer compared to younger, but this study has shown that malignancy and menopausal status have a p-value of 0.754, which is not statistically significant. However, both malignant and benign lesions were found more in women having high breast density, in keeping with previous literature. Hence, precaution and care should be taken during pre-, peri, and post-menopausal phases, especially in those patients with high breast density. Apart from breast density, many other risk factors for breast cancer exist, therefore breast density alone is not sufficient to govern the need for screening in women.