VALUES-BASED PRACTICE


she asked to be covered, the therapeutic radiographers accommodated her request. This small act of respect made a big difference to how Rachel felt when being treated, but the therapeutic radiographer suggested that no other patient had raised this before.


CASE SUMMARY It can be seen that something that has not been considered by the practitioner can be of great significance and value to the patient. Respecting what the patient values can influence their experience of the treatment or examination. It is not in the examination itself but is in the examination process, that patients requiring imaging/treatment could discuss the options with the radiographer. This is where the radiographers’ understanding of the patients’ values should influence their practice.


DECISION-MAKING SKILLS AND JUDGEMENT OF . This complex problem solving


SITUATION The radiographer uses their communication skills and observation of the behaviour of the patient to assess the requirements of the patient during the imaging examination13,18


process is informed by the written information available on the imaging request and observation and questioning of the patient during the examination18


.


The questions asked are however, more likely to be related to the needs of the radiographer in order to assist them in conducting the examination, than related to the needs of the patient. While some advocate the interviewing of patients for imaging19


. It is perhaps ,


others recognise that this would add to the length of the examination and note that some may view this as beyond the role of the radiographer20


these considerations which influence the behaviour of the radiographer and result in a potential lack of consideration of patient values.


VALUES OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE The diagnostic radiographer’s values and priorities could be seen to be the technical aspects of the x-ray examination, speed and efficiency, and ensuring throughput of patients. In their recent paper Hayre et al4


report finding an ‘in and out’ culture in imaging


departments, where patients are rushed through examinations in order to reduce waiting times. The radiology manager’s values may be seen to have some similarities, in that they will also be interested in speed and efficiency, but they will also be interested in the quality of care provided in their department. Since the Francis report6


placed on the quality of care and measures such as the ‘Friends and Family test’21


The diagnostic radiographer may only meet a patient once, and has very little time to get to know the patient


a much greater emphasis has been have been introduced as a way


of measuring patient satisfaction with the quality of care. We should perhaps ask ourselves the following questions:


What about patients’ values? Do we actually know what patients’ values are? Do we make assumptions about what our patients want and need from us? Do we assume that we know what patient’s values are? Do we actually ask them?


We should also consider carers and relatives.


We can measure waiting times, reporting times, incidents, complaints and patient dose but it is difficult to measure quality. As discussed previously, while some patients would relish a fast and efficient


JUNE 2017 15


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