A small scale qualitative study to investigate the interaction between psychiatric patients and diagnostic radiographers in one Irish hospital

Abstract

Background A substantial number of patients with psychiatric illnesses present to the Imaging Department across the Irish Republic each year. Patients who have a psychiatric illness may present difficulties for the radiographer during a radiographic examination. These difficulties may include communication difficulties, and an increased prevalence to become violent due to their illness. Aims To investigate if radiographers feel confident interacting with psychiatric patients. To ascertain if radiographers need more training in this area of patient interaction. Method A qualitative approach was used drawing upon six radiographers working in a regional hospital with a psychiatric unit attached. The radiographers were interviewed individually and the results were thematically analysed. Results The results indicated that the level of the radiographers own confidence in relation to interacting with psychiatric patients was influenced by the number of years since qualification. The majority of radiographers in the study displayed a poor knowledge of psychiatric conditions and how they affect patients. Conclusion Based upon this small study, the results suggest that newly qualified radiographers do not feel confident in their own abilities when interacting with psychiatric patients and would welcome and benefit from specific training with regards to strategies to deal with psychiatric patients. The radiographers reported that particular areas which may be improved upon are more information on psychiatric illnesses, manifestations of different types of psychiatric illness and the subsequent effect on patients. A larger study encompassing the whole of the Republic of Ireland would be valuable as a precursor to a European comparative study in order to investigate this phenomenon at a deeper level. Additionally it is recommended that further research is conducted within a wider European context on student radiographers and lecturers teaching on undergraduate radiography courses to ascertain if this topic is addressed at undergraduate level.