Workplace factors impacting the wellbeing of diagnostic radiographers in clinical practice: A literature review

Ismail, Yumna; Shiner, Naomi; Tucker, Richard

Abstract

Introduction
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in an emphasis on external factors affecting the wellbeing of staff within the National Health Service. There is a national shortage of diagnostic radiographers in the United Kingdom, so maintaining the health and satisfaction of the current radiographic workforce is important. The aim of this literature review is to determine workplace-related factors affecting the wellbeing of diagnostic radiographers in their clinical practice.

Methods
An interpretive phenomenological approach was selected to gain an insight of wellbeing from the perspective of radiographers and radiology managers. A systematic literature search was conducted, resulting in 10 core articles which were then thematically analysed.

Results
Five themes were identified: Initial waves of COVID-19, Workload and Working Patterns, Mental Health, Sources of Support, and Recognition and Development.

Discussion
COVID-19 has had a short and long-term impact on the working practices of radiographers, leading to a risk of burnout. Radiographers appreciated different forms of recognition from managers and support within their team but felt a lack of professional recognition outside the radiology department. Radiographers displayed resilience during the pandemic, using various strategies to cope with emotional challenges. A variety of external support was available to radiographers, but this was often self-directed, with in-person support difficult to access due to working patterns.

Conclusion
This review highlights the lack of tailored support addressing radiographers’ unique experiences. As imaging modalities have different workloads and varying emotional involvement with patients, further research to provide evidence-based interventions to improve radiographers’ mental health is advised.

Citation

Ismail, Y., Shiner, N., & Tucker, R. (2024). Workplace factors impacting the wellbeing of diagnostic radiographers in clinical practice: A literature review. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 55(4), Article 101439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101439

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Jul 11, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jul 11, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-12
• Deposit Date: Sep 30, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1939-8654
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 55
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 101439
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101439
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/878026
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1939865424001656?via%3Dihub