This study explores the day-to-day application of digital radiography (DR) within the X-ray environment. This study presents the voices of the radiographers' untold views, attitudes and experiences of DR through the process of observing, listening, retelling and interpreting junior and senior radiographers' responses. There were three stages to this ethnographic study. Firstly, exploring 'what radiographers did' environment by observing clinical practices. This provided 'first-hand' experience of action-in-process. Secondly, 22 semi-structured interviews were undertaken, directed by emerging themes and informal discussions from the clinical observations. Semi-structured interviews provided an understanding of the experiences, behaviours and attitudes of radiographers providing a deeper understanding of the relationship between practice and context. Thirdly, X-ray experiments were undertaken contributing to 'what had been seen and said by participants'. This data was later triangulated to support the research objectives outlined in this PhD research. Observation and interview data were analysed using thematic analysis and grouped into four overarching categories; learning, radiographer challenges, ionising radiation and patient care delivery. X-ray experimental data was inputted into SPSS and later coded. The qualitative data had numerous codes, which generated themes and could be linked in order to generate theoretical descriptions. Multiple-linear regression analysis and Pearson's Correlation provide statistically significant values (p < 0.001) for the experimental models contributing to 'what had been seen and said' by radiographers in the clinical environment. This thesis provides new insights into general radiographic practices using advancing technology. The conclusions that can be drawn from the empirical data is that advancing technology has impacted the day-to-day practices of diagnostic radiographers. Complex phenomena include; current knowledge and understanding, the practice of keeping doses 'as low as reasonably practicable' and impact on patient care delivery. These insights suggest that healthcare and academic environments may require additional support in the aim of delivering optimum patient care.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:685473 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Hayre, Christopher Maverick |
| Publisher | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://create.canterbury.ac.uk/14517/ |
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