Abstract
Background
Care and compassion are fundamental components underpinning healthcare practice. Evidence suggests that healthcare practitioners may experience negative psychological impacts resulting from witnessing the suffering of others which impacts upon their ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion (Sabo, 2006). Such topics are often overlooked given perceptions of diagnostic radiography as a solely technical role. This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychological effects of clinical radiography practice on radiographers in the UK and their coping mechanisms.
Method
Data was generated through in-depth one-to-one semi-structured interviews with twenty-three radiography practitioners working in the UK. Participants were recruited through the research teams’ professional networks, the Society of Radiographers Live and via the UKIO Congress 2024 Research Hub. The collated anonymised and transcribed data was analysed using iterative thematic analysis.
Findings
The analysis generated three themes focused on radiographers’ strategies and challenges in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing. These themes of ‘mental health stigma’, ‘coping mechanisms’ and ‘guilt,’ were prevalent across all participants, demonstrating the prominent complex factors impacting radiographers’ psychological wellbeing in clinical practice.
Conclusion
These three themes highlight the challenges and difficulties faced by radiographers in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing. The stigma and guilt associated with the seeking of psychological support is a wider issue than radiography specifically. However, implementation of organisational, professional and regulatory psychological wellbeing support structures are required if radiographers’ wellbeing is to be meaningfully achieved and the prevailing sense of guilt alleviated.
References
Sabo, B.M. (2006) Compassion fatigue and nursing work: Can we accurately capture the consequences of caring work? International Journal of Nursing Practice: 12(3): 136-142. https://doi-org.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00562.x.
Care and compassion are fundamental components underpinning healthcare practice. Evidence suggests that healthcare practitioners may experience negative psychological impacts resulting from witnessing the suffering of others which impacts upon their ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion (Sabo, 2006). Such topics are often overlooked given perceptions of diagnostic radiography as a solely technical role. This qualitative study aimed to explore the psychological effects of clinical radiography practice on radiographers in the UK and their coping mechanisms.
Method
Data was generated through in-depth one-to-one semi-structured interviews with twenty-three radiography practitioners working in the UK. Participants were recruited through the research teams’ professional networks, the Society of Radiographers Live and via the UKIO Congress 2024 Research Hub. The collated anonymised and transcribed data was analysed using iterative thematic analysis.
Findings
The analysis generated three themes focused on radiographers’ strategies and challenges in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing. These themes of ‘mental health stigma’, ‘coping mechanisms’ and ‘guilt,’ were prevalent across all participants, demonstrating the prominent complex factors impacting radiographers’ psychological wellbeing in clinical practice.
Conclusion
These three themes highlight the challenges and difficulties faced by radiographers in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing. The stigma and guilt associated with the seeking of psychological support is a wider issue than radiography specifically. However, implementation of organisational, professional and regulatory psychological wellbeing support structures are required if radiographers’ wellbeing is to be meaningfully achieved and the prevailing sense of guilt alleviated.
References
Sabo, B.M. (2006) Compassion fatigue and nursing work: Can we accurately capture the consequences of caring work? International Journal of Nursing Practice: 12(3): 136-142. https://doi-org.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00562.x.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jun 2025 |
| Event | 2025 United Kingdom Imaging & Oncology Congress: Community & Consciousness: One Health - ACC Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom Duration: 2 Jun 2025 → 4 Jun 2025 https://www.ukio.org.uk/programme-2025/ |
Conference
| Conference | 2025 United Kingdom Imaging & Oncology Congress |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | UKIO |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Liverpool |
| Period | 2/06/25 → 4/06/25 |
| Internet address |