Workplace Abuse: A Survey of Radiographers in Public Hospitals in Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract

The scope of practice of a radiographer involves interactions with patients and hospital personnel before and after medical imaging services. It has been observed that radiographers experienced loss of enthusiasm and involvement toward their work leading to absenteeism, poor morale, and stress. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of work-related abuse against radiographers in public hospitals in Tshwane, South Africa (SA). A quantitative method, nonexperimental cross-sectional design, was used, and data collection tools were questionnaires that were hand-delivered to the participants. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results are presented in figures. In a population of 65 radiographers, only 57% (n = 37) participated in the study. Results are for participants who were involved in one or more form of abuse. Three forms of abuse were investigated, verbal abuse at 73%, emotional abuse at 46%, and physical abuse at 27%. The perpetrators of physical abuse (14%) were hospital patients, whereas coworkers were the main perpetrators of verbal abuse (12%) and emotional abuse (10%) was perpetrated by coworkers. In conclusion, workplace abuse of a radiographer is prevalent, in the x-ray departments of tertiary public hospitals in Tshwane, SA. Verbal abuse was ranked the highest form of abuse, followed after by emotional and physical abuse. Perpetrators of physical abuse were hospital patients, while coworkers were the main perpetrators of verbal and emotional abuse. The study will benefit the health care institutions and the general profession of radiography; it provided empirical evidence on the prevalence of abusive incidences and the perpetrators thereof. Findings were presented to raise awareness of work place abuse of radiographers and may be used to formulate protocols regarding management of such problems.