Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia.
Canberra Imaging Group, Ground Floor, Calvary Bruce, Private Hospital, Mary Porter Circuit, Bruce, ACT, Australia.
Radiography (Lond). 2023 May;29(3):604-609. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2023.03.013. Epub 2023 Apr 17.
Paediatric patients differ from adult patients with respect to anatomy, examination factors, behaviour, and intellectual development, requiring dedicated specialised knowledge and expertise. In the absence of a formal dedicated paediatric medical imaging subspecialty, this study undertook to understand student radiographers' experiences and perspectives on paediatric medical imaging.
The study entailed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design entailed a 51-item closed and open-ended response questionnaire using a total sampling method. Data were collected from both under- and postgraduate student radiographers who undertook clinical placement. Data interpretation and analysis involved statistical analysis of close-ended questions and thematic analysis of open-ended questions.
The overall response rate was 70%. Most participants acknowledged the importance of dedicated paediatric content as well as the theory content covered. The shortcoming in pre-placement practical component was overcome through varied approaches like observations and attempting through supervision whilst experiencing uncertainty, anxiety and felt unfair to risk the patient. As reported in literature like their qualified counterparts expressed similar challenges in technique adaptation, styles of interactions in gaining cooperation from both the children and parents. They also felt paediatric content and the practicals should be embedded throughout the course offering to not compromise the day-to-day service delivery.
The study findings iterate the importance paediatric imaging in the service delivery context. The importance of undertaking these examinations reliant on experiential learning is insufficient to bridge the gap of preparation prior to placement.
Collaborative academic and clinical radiography education will ensure that radiography students' dedicated specialised paediatric imaging knowledge and experience are enhanced.
儿科患者在解剖结构、检查因素、行为和智力发育方面与成人患者不同，需要专门的专业知识和专长。由于缺乏正式的专门儿科医学成像专业，本研究旨在了解学生放射技师对儿科医学成像的经验和看法。
该研究采用描述性的横断面调查设计，使用总抽样方法，包括一个 51 项封闭式和开放式回答问卷。数据来自进行临床实习的本科和研究生放射技师。数据解释和分析包括对封闭式问题的统计分析和对开放式问题的主题分析。
总体回复率为 70%。大多数参与者都认识到专门的儿科内容以及涵盖的理论内容的重要性。通过各种方法，如观察和在监督下尝试，克服了预实习实践部分的不足，同时在感到不确定、焦虑和感到不公平冒险对患者造成风险时。正如文献中报道的那样，他们与合格的同行一样，在适应技术、与儿童和家长建立合作关系的互动方式方面都面临着类似的挑战。他们还认为，儿科内容和实践应该贯穿整个课程，以确保不影响日常服务的提供。
研究结果强调了儿科成像在服务提供背景下的重要性。依靠经验学习来进行这些检查对于在实习前做好准备是不够的。
协作的学术和临床放射学教育将确保放射技师学生的专门儿科成像知识和经验得到增强。
