Westbrook_2016.pdf (8.02 MB)
Shedding new light on magnetic resonance imaging practitioner education: jack of all trades or master of one?
thesis
posted on 2023-08-30, 14:43 authored by Catherine WestbrookRationale: MRI is a highly specialised imaging modality that uses non-damaging
radiation to produce detailed medical images. In most countries, these images
are acquired by practitioners who first train as radiographers and then specialise
in MRI. Previous research suggests that some MRI practitioners may have
insufficient knowledge to practise safely. This research proposes that
practitioners should be educated initially and exclusively in MRI via a specialised
undergraduate curriculum. This is underpinned by a proposition that the practice
of MRI does not require an advancement of previously acquired radiographic
knowledge, but instead reflects a difference in knowledge.
Methodology: As there are educational and professional implications to this
research, a mixed-methodology approach is chosen. A convergent nested
design with a dominant educational quantitative strand, supported by
professional qualitative data, is used. Quantitative data are collected via an
objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to explore whether there is any
difference in MRI knowledge between graduate and experiential practitioners.
Graduate practitioners (n=25) learn MRI only via a specialised undergraduate
degree. Experiential practitioners (n=23) learn only experientially postqualification
as a radiographer. Qualitative data exploring the professional
implications of direct entry into MRI are collected via semi-structured interviews
with key stakeholders (n=8). These are professionals who have either
experience of graduate and experiential practitioners or an influence on policy in
this area. The data from both strands are merged and analysed using a
connections matrix.
Findings: Statistical analysis of the quantitative data shows that graduate
practitioners score more highly in the OSCE at a significance of p<0.05,
especially in topics related to general principles of MRI, image contrast and
image acquisition. The qualitative data support direct entry but raise concerns
about limited scope of practice and registration.
Contribution to knowledge: This is the first study that considers whether the
radiographic specialism is best learned initially and exclusively at undergraduate
level and whether it is necessary to qualify as a radiographer to practise MRI. It
is also the first study that uses a mixed-methodology approach to explore the
feasibility of early specialisation in radiography.
History
Institution
Anglia Ruskin UniversityFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
Thesis name
- Other
Thesis type
- Doctoral
Legacy posted date
2017-05-22Legacy creation date
2017-05-22Legacy Faculty/School/Department
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