Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Dec;71(4):564-572.
doi: 10.1002/jmrs.815. Epub 2024 Aug 1.

Operational challenges and collaborative solutions in radiology image interpretation: perspectives from imaging departments in a low-resource setting

Abel Karera  1   2 , Florence Davidson  2 , Penelope Engel-Hills  3
Affiliations

Operational challenges and collaborative solutions in radiology image interpretation: perspectives from imaging departments in a low-resource setting

Abel Karera et al. J Med Radiat Sci. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Medical imaging's critical role in diagnosis requires prompt and precise image interpretation. Numerous radiology departments, especially in low-resourced settings, encounter challenges such as a shortage of radiologists in their operational setup. This study explored the perceptions of radiographers and radiologists from low-resourced departments in a single country regarding operational challenges and potential solutions in image interpretation.

Methods: A qualitative approach was utilised, involving heads of departments, senior radiographers, and radiologists with a minimum of 5 years of experience, from three major state referral hospitals. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted in November 2022, using an interview guide that included questions on the challenges encountered during image interpretation and the proposed solutions. Data analysis was conducted using Atlas.ti version 9.0, following the four-step content analysis method. All participants willingly provided consent to participate in the study.

Results: Ten participants, comprising two radiologists and eight radiographers participated in the study. The research identified three main themes: image interpretation pathways, image interpretation operational challenges and proposed solutions for image interpretation. In addition, a total of 10 subthemes were generated from the three main themes.

Conclusion: The study revealed critical challenges and the need to explore the formal inclusion of radiographers in image interpretation, as a way to improve efficiency. However, a comprehensive assessment of the image interpretation system, encompassing radiographers' knowledge and competence, is recommended for context-specific, empirical-based modifications to enhance service provision.

Keywords: Healthcare; image interpretation; low‐resource setting; radiographer; radiologists.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

    1. Manning D. Perception in context. In: Samei E, Krupinski EA (eds). The Handbook of Medical Image Perception and Techniques, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2019; 82–92.
    1. Society of Radiographers . Radiology and radiography. Br Med J 1925: 855–856.
    1. Wuni AR, Courtier N, Kelly D. Developing a policy framework to support role extension in diagnostic radiography in Ghana. J Med Imaging Radiat Sci 2021; 52: 112–120. - PubMed
    1. Mcconnell J, Smith T. Submission to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission: redesigning the medical imaging workforce in Australia. 2008.
    1. Scott‐Blagrove J, Tharmalingham H, Obaro AE. Promoting equity of opportunity in radiology & oncology through mentorship and advocacy. Clin Radiol 2022; 77: 239–243. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources