The education of TR varies across Europe with different competencies required for registration in different countries. In the UK, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has established the curriculum standards for educational institutions to adhere to. These standards include the Standards of Education and Training (SETs) and the Standards of Proficiency for Radiographers (SoPs). The purpose of these standards is to ensure that TR who complete the educational programme meet HCPC standards for their professional skills and knowledge, and are fit to practise. All educational institutions in the UK design their course curricula ensuring the SETs and SoPs are delivered throughout the duration of the course. In addition to this, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Benchmark statement: Radiography helps ensures a harmonious delivery of educational standards across the UK resulting in a uniform TR workforce. Further guidelines provided by the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) identify the Education and Career Framework for the Radiography Workforce in the UK, however, it is important to note that these guidelines are generic and do not identify the knowledge, skills or competencies in finite detail. These guidelines are also only applicable in the UK and great variation exists with similar policies/guidelines applied across the EU. Standardisation of educational frameworks would ensure a standard of high quality care is delivered to all patients across all member states of the EU.
The aim of this work package is to investigate and identify the perceptions of patients/service users on the role and skills of TR. The study will determine if patients perceive any gaps in the knowledge, skills or competencies of these professionals and highlight areas for improvement.
On the basis of evidence collection, it is the objective of this work package to design a proposal to address these skills gaps by identifying competencies which should be included within the education curriculum of TR across Europe.
Lead organisation
Ulster University – UU (UK)
Participating organisations
- University of Malta – UoM (MT)
- Instituto Portugues de Oncologia Porto – IPOP (PT)
- Towarzystwo Naukowe Technikow Medycznych Radioterapii - TNTMR (PL)
Outputs
Publication of patients' perceptions regarding the competencies of the TRs. The assessment of the results of the study related to the patients’ perceptions of the competencies of the TR will be published in a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal. The link will be available on the consortium’s website
If deemed necessary (due to the amount of information) a complementary report will be available on the consortium’s website.
A fact-sheet will also be constructed for publication on the website with reference to the report and the journal publication.
Presentation of results on the research related to patients' perceptions of the competencies of TRs
Oral presentation of the results of the study of the patients’ perceptions of the competencies of the TR.
The results of the research will also be disseminated through presentations at international conferences. Preliminary results will be presented at national level.
Impact
Awareness of patient’s perception regarding skills of TRs.
This WP will focus on an understudied area of the training of TRs that is what does the patient consider relevant in the TRs’ skills and which are underdeveloped. This WP will, therefore, raise awareness for the patient as a stakeholder and promote the development of skills deemed important by them. This awareness will be raised through oral presentations to the scientific community and publications (scientific and to the general public). All these media of dissemination will be promoted on the website and social media.
Webinar lecture plan on underdeveloped skills, as perceived by patients.
Contacts
Dr Sonyia Mc Fadden Dr Ciara Hughes Dr Patricia McClure