Strategies for overcoming barriers to engagement in continuing professional development (CPD) activities in radiography: Exploratory study in Malawi

IF 2.8 Q2 RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING

Radiography Pub Date : 2025-08-26 DOI:10.1016/j.radi.2025.103129

P.B. Shaba , P.B. Nkosi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) involves the systematic maintenance, improvement, and broadening of knowledge, skills, and personal qualities necessary for executing professional and technical duties throughout a professional's work life. Radiographers must stay up to date with the latest knowledge and technological advancements to maintain best practices. Previous studies have highlighted time constraints, a lack of motivation and insufficient resources as barriers to engaging in CPD activities among radiographers. Notably, there is a paucity of literature documenting strategies to overcome these barriers from the perspective of key stakeholders, including radiographers, their employers and the professional body. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of radiographers, employers and the professional body on strategies to improve CPD engagement by radiographers.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory study was employed using purposive sampling to select 15 radiographers, 3 employers and a representative from the professional body in Malawi. After obtaining ethical approval and signed consent from the participants, one-to-one and face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants, audio recorded with their permission, and transcribed verbatim before analysis. Tesch's eight steps of data analysis were used to analyse the data and develop themes related to the strategies to overcoming barriers to CPD engagement by radiographers.

Results

The study yielded three themes, namely: Promoting a supportive mindset to alleviate attitudinal barriers, enhancing accessibility and infrastructure, and establishing organisational support.

Conclusion

A comprehensive and multi-faceted approach incorporating employer support, accessible resources, and regulatory frameworks is essential to facilitate optimal CPD engagement among radiographers, thereby enhancing professional practice, patient care outcomes and overall healthcare care quality.

Implications for practice

Implementing strategies that foster a supportive mindset, enhance accessibility, and establish organisational support can help overcome barriers to CPD engagement among radiographers in Malawi, ultimately improving the quality of radiography services and patient care.

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克服参与放射学持续专业发展（CPD）活动障碍的战略：马拉维的探索性研究

持续专业发展（CPD）涉及在专业人员的整个工作生涯中系统地维护、改进和扩大知识、技能和个人素质，以履行专业和技术职责。放射技师必须跟上最新的知识和技术进步，以保持最佳实践。以往的研究强调，时间限制、缺乏动力和资源不足是阻碍放射技师参与持续专业进修活动的因素。值得注意的是，从关键利益相关者（包括放射技师、他们的雇主和专业团体）的角度来看，缺乏文献记录克服这些障碍的策略。本研究旨在探讨放射技师、雇主和专业团体对提高放射技师持续专业进修参与度的策略的看法。方法采用有目的抽样的方法，对马拉维15名放射技师、3名雇主和1名专业机构代表进行定性探索性研究。在获得参与者的伦理批准和签署同意后，与参与者进行一对一和面对面的访谈，在他们允许的情况下录音，并逐字转录后进行分析。使用Tesch的数据分析的八个步骤来分析数据，并制定与克服放射技师参与持续专业进修障碍的策略相关的主题。结果研究产生了三个主题，即：促进支持心态以减轻态度障碍，增强可及性和基础设施，以及建立组织支持。综合雇主支持、可获取资源和监管框架的综合和多方面的方法对于促进放射技师最佳的CPD参与至关重要，从而提高专业实践、患者护理结果和整体医疗保健质量。实践意义实施策略，培养支持性思维，提高可及性，建立组织支持，可以帮助马拉维的放射技师克服持续专业发展参与的障碍，最终提高放射服务和患者护理的质量。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Radiography RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

34.60%

发文量

169

审稿时长

63 days

期刊介绍： Radiography is an International, English language, peer-reviewed journal of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. Radiography is the official professional journal of the College of Radiographers and is published quarterly. Radiography aims to publish the highest quality material, both clinical and scientific, on all aspects of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy and oncology.