Requests from radiographers looking for funding to finance their research projects have been growing steadily. Recent successful applicants include:
Lisa Punt. £901. Evaluation of patient compliance in the use of vaginal dilators post pelvic radiotherapy.
Vaginal stenosis (narrowing and shortening) is a common chronic toxicity following pelvic radiotherapy that can lead to sexual dysfunction and difficulty in post treatment vaginal examinations. National guidelines in the use of vaginal dilators were first published in July 2005 following evidence that vaginal dilators were an effective tool in reducing vaginal stenosis. The aims of this study are to elicit patient compliance to the national guidelines and evaluate the information given to women with regard to vaginal dilation and sexual health, capturing user opinion on how information may be better delivered to improve compliance.
Keren Williamson. £5000. Utilising personal digital assistants (PDAs) to support and enhance the clinical learning environment for the benefit of student therapeutic radiographers and practice educators
There is concern over the attrition rate of student therapeutic radiographers from training with some reports suggesting poor experience whilst on clinical placement as a major contributing factor. Clinical staff, who provide most of the clinical training for students, are already under pressure to meet increasing workload demands with some conflict now evident between their professional and educator roles. There is a need to ensure that both students and educators are supported in providing a better clinical learning experience for trainee radiographers. Click for more information.
Kathryn Burgess. £5,946. Liverpool investigation of virtual reality in radiotherapy (LIViRR)
An important innovation in radiotherapy training is the current introduction of virtual reality training packages throughout England. In Liverpool the virtual environment for radiotherapy (VERT) will allow students to operate a simulated clinical linear accelerator. They will alter treatment parameters, position a virtual patient for radiotherapy delivery, and inspect the resulting distributions of radiation dose. However, simulator systems typically induce unwelcome symptoms in a proportion of the population, known as cybersickness. Students will be monitored before, during and after use of the system.
Michael Fell. £400. Current practice in cervical spine radiographs regarding the use of swimmers or trauma obliques
The bones at the base of the neck (C7/T1) also referred to as the cervicothoracic junction, can be hard to see on plain x-rays. Various techniques are in use to supplement the initial series of three radiographs (plain x-rays) when necessary. Previous work investigating techniques used after three projections fail, issued a plea for standards to be adopted (Jenkins, Curran and Locke 1999), yet variations still persist. The current situation needs to be established and, if possible, an optimum technique endorsed. Patient benefits from standardisation of best practice include improved evaluation and reduced waiting times (often in uncomfortable immobilisation) and hence reduced hospital costs.
Angela Eddy. £6,875. Experiences of neophyte therapy radiographers in extended roles
The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group report and the Cancer Reform Strategy acknowledge that 80% of radiotherapy work is routine and could be managed by radiographers in extended roles. The positive impact on waiting times could be immense, and a recent professional body survey shows that numbers of extended role practitioners are gradually increasing, with many departments making strategic plans to increase numbers over the coming years. Currently, we know little about the efficacy of the roles or the individual’s experiences in these roles. Research into extended role practice for therapy radiographers is limited and there is a clear gap in knowledge, which needs addressing if 80% of practice is to be managed by extended role practitioners. This qualitative study will explore the experiences of therapy radiographers who have been working in extended roles for up to two years, to gain an understanding of their professional development.
Nicholas Cantlay. £1500. Sonographers' experiences of breaking bad news in prenatal ultrasound
All pregnant women in the UK are offered a prenatal ultrasound examination between eight and 12 weeks gestation, and again between 18 and 22 weeks gestation to determine the viability of the pregnancy and to screen for abnormalities. Many women, however, do not appreciate the screening function of prenatal ultrasound and see the scan as a social event in which they get to see their baby for the first time. One in five examinations will reveal a miscarriage and abnormalities will be detected in a further six percent.
Bad news in pregnancy is, therefore, often unexpected and if handled ineptly in these situations can lead to long term psychological morbidity in the women. In the UK, sonographers are the most likely health professionals to break bad news in prenatal ultrasound, yet there are no specific guidelines to help them. This is partly because very little research has been carried out from the sonographer’s perspective. The advice that does exist stems from research in the medical profession and focuses on the importance of advance preparation, which is impractical given the immediate nature of bad news during prenatal ultrasound. This project will look at sonographers’ experiences of breaking bad news.
The aim of the research is to identify elements of good practice that can be incorporated into a protocol to guide future breaking bad news interactions. It is hoped that this will also provide a framework for training novice practitioners.
