van der Westhuizen Leah, Naidoo Kathleen, Casmod Yasmin, Mdlethse Sibusiso
Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
Health SA. 2020 Dec 7;25:1409. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v25i0.1409. eCollection 2020.
Medical imaging has been driven by technological advancements. However, the concept of caring has now become a significant element in the healthcare profession. Within a South African context, there are principles that emphasise the importance of people and service delivery: the Batho Pele Principles and Ubuntu. Now more than ever, there is a greater need for a patient-centred caring environment. Therefore, there is an expectation for sonographers to be adaptive to this new environment.
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the sonographers' experiences of being caring professionals.
Sonographers who work within private practices in Gauteng were part of this study.
A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual, phenomenological research design was used. Focus group interviews were conducted with qualified sonographers registered with the HPCSA. Thematic analysis was used to code data into themes and categories.
Four themes emerged: the effects of a caring relationship between a sonographer and a patient; circumstances limiting a sonographer in being a caring professional; sonographers' approach to caring; educational readiness of sonographers to be caring professionals.
The participants in this study explained and shared their understanding of being caring professionals. They shared many stories regarding trusting relationships with patients. However, as a caring professional, many challenges were encountered, both physically and emotionally. Recommendations such as reflective journals and the practices of Jean Watson's theory of transpersonal caring are cited to focus on the practice and education that may improve caring among sonographers.
医学成像一直受到技术进步的推动。然而，关怀的理念如今已成为医疗行业的一个重要元素。在南非的背景下，有一些原则强调了人和服务提供的重要性：《巴索佩莱原则》和“乌班图”精神。现在比以往任何时候都更需要一个以患者为中心的关怀环境。因此，人们期望超声检查技师能够适应这种新环境。
本研究的目的是探索和描述超声检查技师作为关怀专业人员的经历。
在豪登省私人诊所工作的超声检查技师参与了本研究。
采用了定性、探索性、描述性、情境性、现象学研究设计。对在卫生专业人员理事会注册的合格超声检查技师进行了焦点小组访谈。采用主题分析法将数据编码为主题和类别。
出现了四个主题：超声检查技师与患者之间关怀关系的影响；限制超声检查技师成为关怀专业人员的情况；超声检查技师的关怀方式；超声检查技师成为关怀专业人员的教育准备情况。
本研究的参与者解释并分享了他们对成为关怀专业人员的理解。他们分享了许多与患者建立信任关系的故事。然而，作为关怀专业人员，在身体和情感上都遇到了许多挑战。文中引用了诸如反思日志和琼·沃森的超个人关怀理论实践等建议，以关注可能改善超声检查技师关怀能力的实践和教育。
