University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Radiography, Windhoek, Namibia.
University of Namibia, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Radiography, Windhoek, Namibia.
J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2023 Jun;54(2):312-318. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2023.02.011. Epub 2023 Mar 22.
Justification is a process conducted by the radiographer in consultation with the radiologist to evaluate radiological procedures ordered by doctors. The main purpose for justifying all radiologic procedures is to assess the benefits and risks of a requested radiographic procedure and determine whether exposure will continue. Furthermore, justification helps to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure and reduce the chances of harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
The study aimed to explore the experiences of radiographers regarding the justification of radiological procedures at two public hospitals in Namibia METHODS: This study made use of a qualitative, exploratory design. A total number of 13 purposefully selected radiographers from radiology departments in two tertiary public - hospitals in Namibia were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide and audio recorder. All interviews were conducted face-to-face until data saturation was achieved. Data were analysed using Atlas.ti Windows (version 9.0 using Tesch's 8-step method of qualitative data analysis to generate themes and subthemes.
The participants experienced an enhancement of patient care through enhanced radiation protection and optimised patient care. They also experienced defunct communication systems through deficient communication between radiographers and referrers, professional role conflict and incomplete referrals.
The study revealed that the justification of radiological procedures was linked to both negative and positive experiences. Enhanced patient-centred care was a positive experience related to the radiographers' job responsibilities. The defunct communication support system was a negative experience as it related to the limited availability and utilisation of communication systems that are meant to enhance and support justification by radiographers. The study recommends an in-depth study to quantify unjustified procedures in these two hospital departments. Continuous professional development focusing on justification and referral protocols must be conducted jointly between radiographers and referrers to create awareness and a platform for shared decision-making models.
正当化是放射技师与放射科医生协商进行的过程，用于评估医生开具的放射程序。正当化所有放射程序的主要目的是评估请求的放射程序的益处和风险，并确定是否继续进行照射。此外，正当化有助于防止不必要的辐射暴露，并降低电离辐射有害影响的可能性。
本研究旨在探讨纳米比亚两家公立医院的放射技师对放射程序正当化的经验。
本研究采用定性、探索性设计。从纳米比亚两家三级公立医院放射科部门中，通过目的性抽样选择了 13 名放射技师进行半结构化访谈，并使用音频记录器。所有访谈均面对面进行，直到达到数据饱和。使用 Atlas.ti Windows（版本 9.0）采用 Tesch 的 8 步定性数据分析方法对数据进行分析，以生成主题和子主题。
参与者通过增强辐射防护和优化患者护理体验到患者护理的提升。他们还经历了因放射技师和转诊医生之间沟通系统失效、专业角色冲突和转诊不完整而导致的沟通失效。
研究表明，放射程序的正当化与积极和消极的经验都有关联。增强以患者为中心的护理是与放射技师工作职责相关的积极经验。失效的沟通支持系统是一种消极经验，因为它与旨在增强和支持放射技师正当化的沟通系统的有限可用性和利用有关。本研究建议对这两家医院科室中未经正当化的程序进行深入研究。必须由放射技师和转诊医生共同开展关于正当化和转诊协议的持续专业发展，以提高认识并为共同决策模型搭建平台。
