Abstract
The global shortage of radiologists is affecting the timely provision of imaging reports and thus healthcare delivery. This situation has been the main driving factor behind the successful role extension by radiographers into areas that traditionally were within the scope of radiologists, including image interpretation and reporting. In some countries in Europe, like the United Kingdom, this practice has been legalised. Globally, national and international radiography regulatory bodies are looking at training radiographers in radiographic image interpretation as one of the solutions for improvement on the service delivery in the imaging fraternity.
In Uganda many radiographers in public and private health facilities have taken over this role where there are no radiologists to perform the role of reporting on diagnostic images. There have been many debates as to whether radiographers are competent enough in terms of training, skills, and medical knowledge and confidence to carry out this extended role, which previously was performed by radiologists. Therefore, this research was aimed at finding out radiographers’ experiences and attitudes towards diagnostic imaging and reporting. In the context of this study, diagnostic imaging and reporting refers to reporting on plain films of the musculoskeletal system, the abdomen, skull and chest.
A descriptive quantitative, cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected using a self-developed questionnaire. A total of 98 radiographers from all over Uganda participated in the study. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics.
The study revealed that in Uganda, the majority of radiographers, 89.7% (87) agree that it is necessary for radiographers to report on diagnostic images. It was also noted that most of the radiographers, 58(59.8%), applied knowledge gained during their bachelor’s degree studies for reporting on musculoskeletal, abdomen, and skull and chest images in this study. The majority 66(68.0%) of the radiographers agreed that the programme provided sufficient training to do reporting on diagnostic images. The majority 91 (93.8%) also agreed that a radiographer who reports on diagnostic images should take full accountability for his/her actions and reports.
The current study shows that there is a willingness on the part of the radiographers in Uganda to take up the role of image reporting. It is therefore recommended that policy makers and the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with training institutions, start planning for post graduate courses in image reporting for radiographers, advancing into musculoskeletal image reporting. Therefore, it is recommended that policy should incorporate those who obtain post graduate qualifications as specialist radiographers after acquiring the necessary qualifications in diagnostic image reporting and are enumerated as specialists in government facilities like any other specialist in professions in government organisations. This will motivate them to provide such a scarce service in the absence of a radiologist.