Radiation risk-benefit communication during paediatric CT imaging: Experiences of radiographers at two public hospitals

Abstract

IntroductionRadiation dose knowledge and effective communication skills are essential for both radiographers and radiologists to be able to appropriately fulfil their legal responsibilities to justify each medical exposure. Furthermore, they enable the optimisation of imaging protocols and techniques according to the child's characteristics and underlying clinical conditions. Previous studies have shown that radiographers do not provide paediatric patients and their parents/guardians with adequate information about doses and risks before a procedure. However, they have a legal responsibility to explain the radiation risk associated with performing the procedure as well as the associated risk of not performing the same procedure. There are several obstacles to describing ionizing radiation risk, including the ionizing radiation language that is not readily understood by non-imaging personnel. This study aimed to explore and describe the radiographers' experiences of radiation risk-benefit communication during paediatric CT imaging at two public hospitals. This is important to understand the effectiveness of the communication process and institute corrective action where shortcomings are evident. MethodsA qualitative, exploratory, descriptive research design was applied. The sample consisted of 12 purposively selected radiographers who were trained and working in the CT imaging department. Data were collected using face-to-face individual interviews. Tesch's 8 steps were used to analyse the data collected and generate themes and subthemes. ResultsTwo themes emerged from the data collected: (1)Positive experiences with two sub-themes (job satisfaction and mutual benefit) and (2) negative experiences with three sub-themes (.professional deprecation, ineffectual outcomes and communication impediments). ConclusionPositive experiences boosted radiographers' confidence and enhanced their participation in radiation risk-benefit communication with paediatric patients’ parents and guardians while negative experiences hindered patient-centred care in the process of risk-benefit communication. Implications for practiceContinuous education of radiographers and doctors on radiation risk-benefit communication before paediatric CT procedures is recommended, in line with their scope of practice, to improve patient-centred care.