Qualitative Methods In Radiography - Research Paper Example

Qualitative Methods In Radiography Research Introduction: Autonomy is a rising phenomenon of medical ethics that is affecting almost all the fields of medical sciences. Professional and patient autonomy have become two distinctive concepts in all the respective field of medical sciences. Radiography in this aspect is the major field that is related with the concept of autonomy. The reason behind the higher influence of autonomy over radiography is that it is a field which is responsible for conducting extended diagnostics once the case had been submit by clinical professionals. Radiographers have greatly reported that with the every passing day, demand of patients for radiography operations is increasing. The decision making and informed consent are all taken by patients in this regard. Autonomy is widely being practiced by the patients and clinical professions. But most prominently, patients have been observed to be more involved in taking decisions for the demand of radiography operations. The ongoing debate regarding the aspect of autonomy in radiography continues because many professionals believe that autonomy is the freedom under which patients can demand radiography operations. Another school of thought claims that continuous increase in demand of patient autonomy for radiography operations would introduce an unhealthy practice of autonomy in the field of radiography. Only health care professionals are supposed to practice autonomy with complete knowledge of medical history of patients. The concept of autonomy is in continuous debate because more and more cases have been brought to front where lack of clinical autonomy has caused death. Patients are noted to be less potential to have capacity to understand the consequences. Most of the patients do not understand or simply ignore the warnings which are imposed by radiographers and clinical professionals when the case is treated. Such an inability to understand the consequences is more likely to cause divergence in medical ethics. A number of researches have been conducted for understanding the relation between the autonomy concerned with patients and the field of radiography. Autonomy involves other very important concepts have been critically discussed in the previous researches. Some of those concepts are informed consent, minor consent, mental capacity, implied consent etc. Research Aim: The research aims to study the relation of radiography and professional autonomy. The research shall highlight the pointers from the previous researches which have been conducted so far. The pointers shall be justified with the implication of radiography laws and regulations. Evaluation of the pointers of debate regarding autonomy and radiography will help in understanding the previous and current trends of autonomy in the relation of radiography. Introduction to the Bibliography: In order to address the issues of autonomy and its relation with the field of radiography following references had been selected. The following references that had been selected for the evaluation for the research are all scholarly sources. The relevance of the references with the respective research is higher as these sources include a laws and regulative aspects of radiography, address to the ongoing debate of autonomy concerns with radiography, appointment of culture among the working clinical professionals and radiographers. All the references which had been selected for the research are imperative as they include current statistics. The articles have appointed different approaches such as hieratical, systematic and thematic approaches to conduct the research. Most Relevant References: 1. The Concept of Advanced Radiographic Practice: An International Perspective Hardy, M, J Legg, T Smith, and B. Ween. "The Concept of Advanced Radiographic Practice: An International Perspective." Elsevier 14, no. 1 (2008): 15-19. The Concept of Advanced Radiographic Practice: An International Perspective had been written by Jeffery Legg, Tony Smith, Borgny Ween, Imelda Williams and Jenn Motto. The article deals with the rising innovations in the field of radiography. The highlight of the article is that it allows the readers to understand the global practice of radiography. The authors have jointly researched different regulatory issues being observed in different medical fields on the basis of autonomy, education, scope, responsibility etc. The authors have also conducted a thorough evaluation of different global perspective of practitioners in the field of radiography. The article had been selected for this research because it helps in understanding the major and minor global influences on the radiography. The concept of autonomy has also been addressed in the article that is relevant to the research being conducted. The authors have acquired data in a hierarchical sequence and have demonstrated how different professionals work in the field of radiography. The limitation of data acquired in the article for research purpose is that it does not really help in understanding the global perspective in terms of region. The regional distinction could have made the research more helpful to understand how different regional radiography associations have contributed to the modern trends of autonomy, education and scope of radiography field. The article could be proved as very important for the research as it helps in demonstrating the consequences of private medical practice being encouraged in some of the countries. The issue directly relates to the autonomy and medical ethics. The acquired data in the article illustrates the consequences of radiographers. There are other important issues which are being addressed in the article. Some of the most notable issues are based upon the radiologist who are working in the field of radiography and get fewer incentives in medical institutions. The address to such issues relates to the concept of autonomy as well. The demand of radiography operations has given rise to the acceptance of non-professional radiographers. The authors have concluded in the article that a definition could be derived by focusing the mutual contribution of regional radiography. The authors have also mentioned the uncertainty of providing a unified definition of the radiography concepts because the medical institutions had been observed to be different from each other. It is due to the diversity in the medical institutional practices that it becomes impossible to project to define radiography in terms of global modern practice. The article could be used effectively for the purpose of research because it is a thorough understanding of developmental stages in the field of radiography. 2. The Ethical Commitment of Australian Radiographers Lewis, S, R Heard, and J. Robinson. "The Ethical Commitment of Australian Radiographers :Does Medical Dominance Create an Influence?" Elvister (University of Sydney) 40, no. 1 (2009): 90-97. The Ethical Commitment of Australian Radiographers is a well organized article written by Sarah Lewis, Robert Heard, John Robinson, Karolyn White and Ann Poulos. The article is a very useful reference for the research as the authors have employed theoretical framework for the research work. The goal of the research is to study the diagnostic radiography and its relation with the medicine. The research also addresses the concept of autonomy which is the main aim of the research. The article is basically signified to evaluate professional autonomy in the Australian radiography. The highlight of the article is that the authors have greatly described how the relationship between the patients and radiographers has become eroded. The article claims that private radiographers in Australia had given rise to patient autonomy for radiography operations. Thus the culture of radiography in Australia is being affected. The research was conducted with the help of case studies and interviews as a survey. The research includes a more thematic analysis of how autonomy had been affecting the professional radiography. The evaluation of radiography is an underlying research pattern. The concept of culture of radiography has been considered as the basis of data acquisition. The success of the research method is that it broadly discusses the factors which are influencing radiography field of science. The success of the research could also be regarded as its particular region selection for evaluation that makes the reference and understanding much easier for the desired research and analysis. With the help of the research conducted by Sarah Lewis, Robert Heard, John Robinson, Karolyn White and Ann Poulos, it could be understood well that due to the increased demands as concerned with the autonomy of patients, professional autonomy have becomes less priority. The case is much visible in the region of Australia as it had been observed that medical ethics in Australia are not considered as imperative. The article concludes that the practice of radiography have greatly influenced by the poor culture among radiographers and eroded relationship between patient and radiography. The authors of the article The Ethical Commitment of Australian Radiographers have carefully pin-pointed the weaknesses in the laws and regulations regarding radiography operations. The article also addresses some of the counter arguments related to the interrelation of autonomy and radiography. The article is useful for the respective research as it addresses three basic issues namely laws and ethical considerations of radiography, autonomy and the professional development of radiographers. 3. Specialism in radiography – a contemporary history of diagnostic radiography Ferris, Christine. "Specialism in radiography e a contemporary history of diagnostic radiography." Radiography 15, no. 1 (2009): 78-84. Written by Christine Ferris of Sheffield Hallam University this article has focused entirely on different aspects of specialism in radiography. The article has very strategically sketched the concept of specialization in the dynamic field of clinical autonomy and radiography. The entire research will show how specialization in the field of radiography has become more complex during the practice span of 1932–2001. It has also made efforts to find out the radiographer’s view of what specialism is to them. In order to achieve their objective semi structured interviews were conducted in which the respondents were twenty one practitioners who had more than half a century experience in radiography. Ferris has very ideally not only conducted the interviews but also interpreted the data gathered to come to a valid conclusion by taking appealing literature to support the points of logic and reasoning. The interviews proved that perceptions about specialism in radiography are based more upon expansion of the role of a radiographer due to advancement in technologies and increase in associated tasks. It was also felt that the practitioners are confusing their roles as a radiographer during the stages of advance practice. The concept of advance practice is somehow not very well structured in the minds of the radiographers and thus it becomes a hindrance while they are considering safe career options. The entire article has assisted greatly in highlighting the significance of radiography in the career path of medical professionals globally. The findings of this research based article have helped in creating more validity to our view that over time radiography has experienced vast changes in working condition due to technology advancement which has not only altered the entire career structure of radiology but also provided more opportunities to the professionals. The manner in which the experiences of the radiographers have been captured helping in creating a more authentic hypothesis are the strengths of this paper while it was observed that the researcher has avoided to give a more detailed account on the hindrances radiographers and other relevant staff face in the field especially because of the technological advancements and constant changing policy initiatives. Overall, the researcher has done a great job in exploring the paths radiographers choose to specialize in diagnostic radiography, the reasons for choosing and the barriers they experience. The researcher in conclusion emphasizes on the dire need of the radiographers to enhance their roles and step into the new diagnosis areas. He believes that with proper visionary management and medical support new radiography fields can be a perfect spot for specialism for upcoming radiographers. 4. Reporting by Radiographers: A Policy and Practice Guide Patersona, A, R Priceb, and A Thomasc. "Reporting by Radiographers: A Policy and Practice Guide." Elsevier 10 (2004): 205-212. In this review article the researchers Audrey M. Paterson, Richard C. Price, Adrian Thomas and Lorraine Nuttalld have aimed on further refining the methods of radiographic reporting. The rules which are to be adopted while reporting by radiographers and other medical staff were developed by the College of Radiographers in 1997. However, over the years the scope of radiography reporting has much expanded because of increase in the number of radiographers involved in reporting also the number of education programmers required during report making has also increased. Due to such massive expansion it was felt that the vision paper of College of Radiographers on radiographic reporting needs amendments, this is when the above mentioned researchers from the Special Interest Group got together and formed certain guidelines and policies in order to assist the radiographers and others during the reporting process. The article is very well defined and in a very systematic way tells it reader’s practical ways to plan and implement a report that caters to the high quality and standards. They have also highly emphasized on the norms which the reporting radiographers have to follow at all times. The guidance outlined in the paper is applicable not only to the radiographers but also to the other staff members of the hospital as well such as the nursing staff working in the minor injury unit. It basically takes the policy stated by the College of Radiographers in 1997 and further develops it so that it becomes a perfect guide to all the managers who intend to introduce accurate methods of reporting not only to the medical staff, non-medical staff and everybody else involved in function of reporting. The literature of the article is based on reliable resources which have helped the paper to address many of the broader issues regarding the radiography reporting. The article has been a great help to enhance the strength of the research paper. Several discussions have been supported by using the literature especially while evaluating the relation of clinical radiology with patient autonomy. The statistics have helped in creating a stronger base of the research paper in the areas of logic and reasoning. However, it was felt that the article lacked information in giving a more detailed account on issues experienced during radiographic reporting which become a barrier in preparing and maintaining an accurate report. Overall, the researchers have done a great job in portraying practical guidelines and policies needed during radiographic reporting. 5. Moral Principles and Medical Practice Hofmann, B., and K. B. Lysdahl. "Moral principles and medical practice: the role of patient autonomy in the extensive use of radiological services." Journal of Medical Ethics 34, no. 6 (2008): 446-449. The article Moral Principles and Medical Practice explains the widely and commonly discussed topic of autonomy in relation with radiography. Previously, it had been observed that a number of radiologist operations which were being conducted were only for the purpose health care requirements of clinical professionals. The authors had discussed that the concept of autonomy had greatly given rise to the need of radiography operations such as CT scans and x-rays as per patient's autonomy. The research by the authors stresses on the fact that radiographers are more keen towards conducting radiography operations as required by patients autonomy which substantially help the radiographers to stay safe from lawsuits. This article had been selected for the purpose of this research because it provides the readers with current and authentic factors which play a major role in radiography. The research is useful because it helps readers in knowing the increasing demand of radiography operations with the help of statistics. The authors had also discussed moral obligations in the research. The highlight of the research is that the authors had broadly researched the concepts of radiography and professional as well as autonomy of patients’ professionals with the help of brief literature review. The literature reviewed for the research includes a number of important concepts which helps in knowing the working process of radiography services. The authors have also discussed that the intensified demand of radiography by patients is because of the awareness of health care issues. The newer technology being used widely in the field of radiography for imaging had installed new moral codes which are in debates. The authors have connected the concept of radiography and autonomy that signifies the increasing demand in the field of health care. The research methodology that has been appointed in the article for the research purpose is basically a review and survey method. Different studies have been evaluated for the purpose of conduction research regarding new moral considerations being viewed for the requirement of analyzing medical ethics. The research can be considered as a helpful source because it is providing the readers with enough knowledge regarding the consequences of personal autonomy and its overall impact on the radiography field of medical. The authors had claimed and concluded in their research that autonomy based upon patient’s decision making does not allow the radiographers to stay safe from the law suits but it had considerably given rise to private radiographers. Concluding Remarks: Through the consideration of above fifty sources, it comes to our understanding that great deal of scholars has studied the relation between professional and personal or patient autonomy with radiography. Different claims as proposed by a number of scholars confirm the fact that there is a strong relationship between radiography and autonomy. The demand of patients for radiography operations have created turmoil that results in ongoing debates. 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