TY - JOUR
T1 - The assertiveness of final year student radiographers during their clinical practice
T2 - A study in Ghana
AU - Anim-Sampong, Samuel
AU - Antwi, William Kwadwo
AU - Antwi, Felicia Adwoa Akyaa
AU - Botwe, Benard Ohene
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Introduction: Speaking up by health professionals is essential for patient safety. To ensure that student radiographers are well equipped in professional practice at the time of graduation, their capacity to speak up openly in the clinical setting is very important. This study assessed student radiographers’ ability to speak up in the face of patient safety compromises during their clinical rotation and how it impacts their learning. Methods: Twenty-four (24) final-year radiography students at the University of Ghana, who were then the only final years in the country, were recruited for the study. Questionnaires about assertive communication using a harm index score were given to the students who consented to participate in the study. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel version 13 and SPSS version 20. Results: The study recorded a response rate of 96% of which the majority (66.7%) were males. The majority (75%) of the participants would not speak up about patient safety issues for reasons. Moreover, 95.8% of the participants got confused when they observed a disparity between clinical practice and lessons taught in the lecture room. Conclusion: The ability of students to speak up is dependent on several factors encountered in the clinical area. For students to be able to function well in a clinical team, they need to be competent to speak up to ensure patient safety irrespective of who they work with. This study identified that students preferred to express themselves non-verbally in some situations that deal with patient safety compromises, instead of speaking up. Improving a culture of respect and freedom to speak up in healthcare settings would ensure patient wellbeing.
AB - Introduction: Speaking up by health professionals is essential for patient safety. To ensure that student radiographers are well equipped in professional practice at the time of graduation, their capacity to speak up openly in the clinical setting is very important. This study assessed student radiographers’ ability to speak up in the face of patient safety compromises during their clinical rotation and how it impacts their learning. Methods: Twenty-four (24) final-year radiography students at the University of Ghana, who were then the only final years in the country, were recruited for the study. Questionnaires about assertive communication using a harm index score were given to the students who consented to participate in the study. The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel version 13 and SPSS version 20. Results: The study recorded a response rate of 96% of which the majority (66.7%) were males. The majority (75%) of the participants would not speak up about patient safety issues for reasons. Moreover, 95.8% of the participants got confused when they observed a disparity between clinical practice and lessons taught in the lecture room. Conclusion: The ability of students to speak up is dependent on several factors encountered in the clinical area. For students to be able to function well in a clinical team, they need to be competent to speak up to ensure patient safety irrespective of who they work with. This study identified that students preferred to express themselves non-verbally in some situations that deal with patient safety compromises, instead of speaking up. Improving a culture of respect and freedom to speak up in healthcare settings would ensure patient wellbeing.
KW - Assertive communication
KW - Safety voice
KW - Speaking up
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85136753719&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jmir.2022.07.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jmir.2022.07.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 35965194
AN - SCOPUS:85136753719
SN - 1939-8654
VL - 53
SP - 605
EP - 611
JO - Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
JF - Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
IS - 4
ER -