Relationship Between Professional Behaviors and Radiologic Technologists' Demographics.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the professional behaviors of radiologic technologists differ based on demographic variables.

Methods: An invitation was sent to 10 000 radiologic technologists to participate in the study. Participants completed the Haynes Scale of Professionalism for Radiologic Technology and answered demographic questions. Kruskal-Wallis tests and analyses of variance were conducted to identify the relationship between demographic variables and professional behaviors. Post hoc analyses were performed to identify differences between groups.

Results: A significant difference was identified for the demographic variable of age and the professionalism subscale of quality patient care (P < .001). The demographic variable of years as a technologist had significant differences with the subscales of quality patient care (P = .007), ethical performance (P = .008), personal and professional development (P = .02), and the total professionalism score (P = .01). A significant difference was found for the highest degree and the subscale of quality patient care (P = .007).

Discussion: The demographic variables of age, years as a technologist, and highest degree affected the technologist's professional behavior scores. Technologists who were older or had more years of experience had higher professional behavior scores.

Conclusion: Certain demographic variables can affect the professional behavior of technologists. These results help to highlight the factors that influence the development of professional behaviors.