Personal and professional development: a survey of radiographers employed in the South West Region

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the personal and professional development characteristics amongst a group of qualified radiographers, employed in the South West Region.Methods: A survey design was employed to explore the characteristics relating to personal and professional development. Group interviews were conducted with both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, employed in a part-time capacity, in four hospitals situated outside the South West Region. These interviews were analysed, and the emergent themes used to design a structured questionnaire. The Society of Radiographers’ database was used to access members in the South West Region. In February 1999, 926 questionnaires were administered via the post to access the target population of both full- and part-time members.Results: An overall response rate of 50% was obtained. Analysis of the questionnaires revealed that full-time radiographers spent more hours engaged in personal and professional development, and attended more study days, than their part-time counterparts. Furthermore, part-timers were more likely to opt for less formal courses than their full-time colleagues. A number of other personal and professional characteristics were also identified which would appear to be common to both full- and part-time practitioners.Conclusions: A proportion of radiographers employed in a part-time capacity are either not fully accessing the opportunities to become involved in personal and professional development, or these opportunities do not exist. Part-timers have unique personal and professional development requirements, and should therefore be considered separately to their full-time colleagues. Managers, radiographers and education providers should consider these findings in their quest for more effective continuing professional development.