Regan Róisín O', Rawashdeh Mohammad, McEntee Mark F, Moore Niamh, Treanor Ben, Ali Magdi, England Andrew
Discipline of Medical Imaging & Radiation Therapy, UG 12, Brookfield Health Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T12 AK54, Ireland.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 222110, Jordan.
J Med Imaging Radiat Sci. 2025 Mar;56(2):101833. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101833. Epub 2024 Dec 24.
Radiographers are frequently involved in imaging patients in pain thus requiring a heightened awareness and focus on this crucial issue.
To explore the challenges radiographers encounter when imaging patients in pain and to identify strategies that could be implemented to improve overall patient-centered care.
A qualitative research study with a single focus group (FG) was conducted using six radiographers working within Irish hospitals. The research questions focused on pain management challenges in the radiology department, particularly identifying radiographers' current practices and strategies to address these challenges. The FG was moderated and video-recorded to facilitate comprehensive analysis. The audio obtained from the FG was transcribed and then analyzed thematically.
Data from the FG identified four main themes: 1) consequences of pain management, 2) communication, 3) professional experience, and 4) barriers. In addition, the study highlighted the absence of current protocols, policies, and guidelines in practice for the effective management of challenges associated with imaging patients in pain within the radiology department.
The primary challenges identified include the stress experienced by both staff and patients, the potential for obtaining suboptimal images, concerns regarding patient safety, and adverse effects on image quality. This study elucidates the manner in which patient discomfort adversely impacts the imaging process and delineates the potential implications for radiographers aiming to achieve optimal image quality. At present, there are no established policies or procedures within the radiology department to direct the imaging of patients in pain.
放射技师经常为疼痛患者进行成像检查，因此需要提高对这一关键问题的认识并予以关注。
探讨放射技师在为疼痛患者成像时遇到的挑战，并确定可实施的策略以改善以患者为中心的整体护理。
对爱尔兰医院的六名放射技师进行了一项单一焦点小组的定性研究。研究问题聚焦于放射科的疼痛管理挑战，特别是确定放射技师当前的做法和应对这些挑战的策略。焦点小组由主持人引导并进行录像，以利于全面分析。从焦点小组获得的音频被转录，然后进行主题分析。
焦点小组的数据确定了四个主要主题：1）疼痛管理的后果，2）沟通，3）专业经验，4）障碍。此外，该研究强调目前在实践中缺乏有效管理放射科疼痛患者成像相关挑战的方案、政策和指南。
确定的主要挑战包括工作人员和患者所经历的压力、获取次优图像的可能性、对患者安全的担忧以及对图像质量的不利影响。本研究阐明了患者不适对成像过程产生不利影响的方式，并描述了对旨在获得最佳图像质量的放射技师的潜在影响。目前，放射科没有既定的政策或程序来指导疼痛患者的成像。
