The utilisation of digital radiography by diagnostic Radiographers in South Africa.
Lamola, Daniel
Lamola, Daniel
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Abstract
Background: Digital radiography is broadly divided into two sub-imaging systems, namely computed radiography and flat-panel detectors. Flat Panel Detectors are further divided into two sub-imaging systems, namely direct and indirect conversions. Computed radiography is also known as cassette-based digital radiography. Digital radiography offers numerous features that diagnostic radiographers can utilise on a day to day basis. However, some of these features seem to be hardly or ever used by diagnostic radiographers in South Africa. Aims: The first aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding of the utilisation of digital radiography features by diagnostic radiographers in South Africa. The second aim was to develop a curriculum framework to guide institutions of higher learning in South Africa in the development and implementation of curricula that adequately address the current digital radiography developments and training needs in the field of diagnostic radiography. Study design: A mixed methods approach involving three phases was followed in this study to address the study objectives. Phase 1 focused on a document analysis of the current diagnostic radiography study guides being used at institutions of higher learning in South Africa. Phase 2 focused on an online survey of current practising diagnostic radiographers in South Africa. Phase 3 involved focus group interviews with diagnostic radiographers working in different imaging facilities in both the private and public sectors in South Africa. Results: The Phase 1 results highlight three main categories of digital radiography feature curricular coverage, namely digital radiography features inadequately covered by the analysed study guides for undergraduate diagnostic radiography, digital radiography features adequately covered and digital radiography features not covered. The Phase 2 results reflect a quantitative analysis of the application and utilisation of the various digital radiography features. Lastly, the Phase 3 results highlight four main categories in the clinical application and utilisation of the various digital radiography features, namely features hardly used or never used, features commonly used, features radiographers are not interested in using; and features about which radiographers have no knowledge. Conclusion: Digital radiography features are in general not adequately covered in the undergraduate curricula of institutions of higher learning offering courses in diagnostic radiography in South Africa. Practising diagnostic radiographers utilise the various available features of digital radiography only sub-optimally; to a certain extent, some radiographers even lacked basic knowledge of digital radiography jargon. Lastly, the diagnostic radiography profession in South Africa is facing various challenges, such as an outdated formal scope of practice, as well as role ambiguity between diagnostic radiographers and information technology specialists.
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Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae Radiography, in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the Tshwane University of Technology
Date
2018-03-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Utilisation, Digital radiography, Diagnostic radiographers, South Africa