Croydon University Hospital, Imaging Department, United Kingdom.
Midlands University Hospital Tullamore, Radiology Department, Co. Offaly, Ireland.
Radiography (Lond). 2022 Aug;28(3):758-765. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2022.03.005. Epub 2022 Apr 2.
Medical imaging in healthcare plays a vital role in the assessment, confirmation, and documentation of the course of many diseases and injuries. However, literature reports that the urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa have more access to imaging services than the rural population. This imbalance can affect radiographers working in rural areas. The aim of this study was to explore factors affecting the ability of radiographers to deliver imaging services in rural parts of Zambia.
This study employed a qualitative exploratory research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from a stratified and purposive sample of six rural radiographers and three stakeholders [Ministry of Health (MOH), Radiological Society of Zambia (RSZ), and Schools of Radiography] across the country. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to manual thematic analysis.
Four themes emerged following thematic analysis: procurement processes and resources, imaging equipment, job satisfaction, and education and training. Factors, such as donated equipment, the introduction of new imaging services and continuous professional development (CPD) were positive elements that assisted rural radiographers in the delivery of imaging services. However, an unequal distribution of equipment between urban and rural areas, old and obsolete equipment, lack of maintenance and servicing, lack of postgraduate courses, bureaucratic procurement processes, lack of consumables, workload, and low salaries, negatively affected the ability of rural radiographers.
Lack of maintenance and servicing of equipment, as well as bureaucratic procurement processes were the main challenges identified by radiographers to imaging services in rural Zambia. There is a need to decentralise the procurement processes and establish a culture of regular maintenance and servicing of equipment.
This research highlights the importance of supporting rural radiographers in the delivery of imaging services.
医疗成像在医疗保健中起着至关重要的作用，可用于评估、确认和记录许多疾病和损伤的过程。然而，文献报告称，撒哈拉以南非洲的城市人口比农村人口更能获得成像服务。这种不平衡会影响在农村地区工作的放射技师。本研究旨在探讨影响赞比亚农村地区放射技师提供成像服务能力的因素。
本研究采用定性探索性研究设计。通过分层和有针对性的抽样，从全国范围内的六名农村放射技师和三个利益相关者[卫生部（MOH）、赞比亚放射学会（RSZ）和放射学院]中收集数据，使用半结构化访谈。数据被录音、转录，并进行手动主题分析。
主题分析后出现了四个主题：采购流程和资源、成像设备、工作满意度以及教育和培训。一些因素，如捐赠设备、引入新的成像服务和持续专业发展（CPD），是帮助农村放射技师提供成像服务的积极因素。然而，设备在城乡之间分配不均、设备陈旧过时、缺乏维护和保养、缺乏研究生课程、官僚采购流程、缺乏消耗品、工作量大以及工资低，这些因素都对农村放射技师的能力产生了负面影响。
设备缺乏维护和保养以及官僚采购流程是放射技师在赞比亚农村地区提供成像服务所面临的主要挑战。需要下放采购流程，并建立设备定期维护和保养的文化。
本研究强调了支持农村放射技师提供成像服务的重要性。
