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www.sor.org SYNERGY NEWS FEBRUARY 2014
Dr Bev Snaith, lead consultant radiographer, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Bev graduated in December with a PhD by published work. This is an alternative route to a traditional PhD for applicants who demonstrate significant specialisation and focus in their subject area and have developed their skills to a doctoral level. “As a consultant radiographer I am already active in research so my thesis was Development of the radiography evidence base: an examination of advancing practice, based around 11 of my previous primary research publications,” she explains. Bev is passionate about the profession and one of her key motivations for pursuing a PhD was to evidence the fact that the research work of many radiographers is at doctorate level. “It’s vital that we prove what we do is beneficial to patients, whether that’s new techniques or care pathways. So many radiographers are already doing this on an informal basis, but we need to formalise and share it,” she says. “We are still in a situation where very few clinical staff
actually publish their work and that is one of the key reasons that the consultant radiographer role was developed – to improve the evidence base and bring innovation to the clincal workforce.” Bev acknowledges that a doctorate may not be for everyone
but says that radiographers need to follow the lead of the other allied health professions in terms of evidence-based practice. “I’d like to see underpinning investment in radiographers, research posts and awareness of funding opportunities so that individuals can consider a PhD earlier in their career,” she says. “We also need better collaboration between academic and clinical departments, with a focus on developing clinical practice as a priority.”
Rachel Palfrey, lecturer, University of Exeter
Rachel qualified as a radiographer in 2007 and went straight on to study for a PhD, looking at the anatomy and microcirculation of the intervertebral disc, using MRI to measure the diffusion of contrast agents. “I received funding from a charity and a research council which was substantial but the scanning time is very expensive and there are other associated costs, including tuition fees,” she explains. “The £13,000 a year stipend wasn’t really enough to live on so for the first two years I worked part-time in a private clinic to support myself and my two children.” In 2009, a lectureship came up and Rachel was appointed. She dropped the PhD study to part time and now expects to graduate in the summer. “I would say that financial support – or funding – is essential, as is emotional support from your employer,” she says. “Once I was a lecturer, I was lucky enough to be given one day a week study leave and that was an enormous help.” Rachel recognises how far the profession has
Andrew England, lecturer, University of Salford
Andrew is currently waiting for his viva (oral examination), the final hurdle to gaining a PhD. He was funded by the National Institute for Health Research for his work on assessing failure of aortic devices using medical imaging. “I decided to do a PhD because I had a lot of experience of research as a full time clinical radiographer and wanted to do more,” he explains. He started in 2010 when he was working as a lecturer at Liverpool University and describes the process as “a journey. “You’re a completely different person at the end because it becomes such a huge part of your life,” he says. “It’s a minimum of three years study so you have to be very determined to succeed.” There’s no doubt there are particular challenges and obstacles for those still in clinical practice but, says Andrew, it is vital that radiographers become more research-focused. “We are one of the most under-researched professions – so much of our practice is based on tradition and personal opinion and not enough is evidence-based. We need to overcome that if we are going to improve our care pathways and the patient experience.”
come but believes that if it is to develop further, radiographers must start to find their own evidence and not just continue to use knowledge from other sources. “I know from my own experience how valuable it is to understand the process of research,” she says. “I am more confident in my abilities and I am now able to bring my own evidence into my teaching, rather than just theories that I have read. “A PhD is a tough process but so rewarding. As a single parent, there have been some very difficult times but I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Further information Information on the different routes to a doctorate
as well as general research news, including funding opportunities and radiographer-led studies, can be found on the SoR’s website at
bit.ly/1hPbE9f
FEATURE
If you would like to apply for CoRIPS funding, visit
bit.ly/1d9tDS8 or email Rachel Harris, SoR professional officer at
rachelh@sor.org
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