Difficulties associated with access to training and clinical support for Reporting Radiographers – A narrative evidence synthesis

ObjectivesThis narrative synthesis of evidence identifies and explores issues that impact upon the expansion or effectiveness of Reporting Radiographers working in all diagnostic modalities within the United Kingdom (UK). The publication focuses on accessibility to training for prospective Reporting Radiographers as well as clinical support within and beyond training.Key findingsFifteen studies informed the themes of this article, they were published between 2014 and 2021. Reporting Radiographers often found it difficult find support during training and once qualified, this was usually due to the availability and workload of supervising staff. Although resistance and obstruction were experienced by many. Concerns relating to pay, promotion and interest were expressed by some respondents whilst access to courses and finance were highlighted as areas of variance across the UK.ConclusionInadequate support of Reporting Radiographers is impairing expansion of the specialism, whilst impacting capability and morale. This increases risk of patient harm, delays to care and inefficiency, it also threatens the sustainability of services. Negative interactions between Reporting Radiographers and Radiologists or managers is disappointing considering development of the specialism; evidence of Reporting Radiographer effectiveness and current collaboration between Royal College of Radiologists and Society of Radiographers. Issues raised in relation to pay/promotion and litigation could be clarified with ease, this should be considered when guidance is updated. Access to finance and courses is a major barrier in some regions of the UK. Scope exists for further exploration of training. England has used grants to facilitate uptake, these may prove to be an important tool in other countries.Implications for practiceDrivers to increase recruitment should be implemented alongside measures to facilitate accessibility to training and improvements to support infrastructure.     

Intensified electrical stimulation targeting lateral and medial prefrontal cortices for the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A randomized,double-blind,parallel-group,dose-comparison study

BackgroundSocial Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is the most common anxiety disorder while remains largely untreated. Disturbed amygdala-frontal network functions are central to the pathophysiology of SAD, marked by hypoactivity of the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hypersensitivity of the medial PFC and the amygdala. The objective of this study was to determine whether modulation of the dorsolateral and medial PFC activity with a novel intensified stimulation protocol reduces SAD core symptoms, improves treatment-related variables, and reduces attention bias to threatening stimuli.MethodsIn this randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind trial, we assessed the efficacy of an intensified stimulation protocol (20 min, twice-daily sessions with 20 min intervals, 5 consecutive days) in two intensities (1 vs 2 mA) compared to sham stimulations. 45 patients with SAD were randomized in three tDCS arms (1-mA, 2-mA, sham). SAD symptoms, treatment-related variables (worries, depressive state, emotion regulation, quality of life), and attention bias to threatening stimuli (dot-probe paradigm) were assessed before and right after the intervention. SAD symptoms were also assessed at 2-month follow-up.ResultsBoth 1-mA and 2-mA protocols significantly reduced fear/avoidance symptoms, worries and improved, emotion regulation and quality of life after the intervention compared to the sham group. Improving effect of the 2-mA protocol on avoidance symptoms, worries and depressive state was significantly larger than the 1-mA group. Only the 2-mA protocol reduced attention bias to threat-related stimuli, the avoidance symptom at follow-up, and depressive states, as compared to the sham group.ConclusionsModulation of lateral-medial PFC activity with intensified stimulation can improve cognitive control, motivation and emotion networks in SAD and might thereby result in therapeutic effects. These effects can be larger with 2-mA vs 1-mA intensities, though a linear relationship between intensity and efficacy should not be concluded. Our results need replication in larger trials.     

562名医务人员子女心理行为状况调查

目的 了解儿童心理行为状况,为改善儿童心理行为问题提供依据。方法 针对本院医务人员子女采用整群随机抽样的方法,通过手机端发放长处和困难问卷(Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire,SDQ)电子版进行调查,收集儿童心理行为健康相关信息。结果 本研究纳入观察病例共562份,年龄均值(8.06±3.251)岁。其中,男275名(48.9%),女287名(51.1%);学龄期儿童311名(55.3%),学龄前期儿童251名(44.7%)。SDQ困难总分评定异常者12.9%,边缘状态者18.1%,正常者69%。情绪问题 、品行问题 、同伴关系问题 、多动问题 、困难总分、亲社会行为各因子异常检出率分别为9.6%、9.8%、19.2%、18.1%、12.9%、7.8%。不同性别儿童SDQ困难总分、情绪症状、亲社会行为、品行问题差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。男生多动问题、同伴关系问题评分分别为(3.87±1.471)分、(4.53±1.542)分,分别高于女生的(3.65±1.415)分、(4.31±1.554)分,差异有统计学意义(t=0.96、7.65,P<0.05)。学龄前期儿童与学龄期儿童情绪症状、品行问题、亲社会行为差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。学龄期儿童同伴关系问题、多动问题、困难总分评分分别为(4.53±1.507)分、(3.85±1.298)分、(12.15±3.613)分,分别高于学龄前期儿童的(4.26±1.652)分、(3.54±1.402)分、(11.45±4.39)分,差异有统计学意义(t=5.36、6.57、14.32,P<0.05)。结论 调查发现,本院医务人员子女心理行为问题发生率较高。应进一步核实诊断,根据不同的心理特征及年龄分类,及早给予心理支持和干预,并由心理医生对这一群体进行长期随访。     

上海市在校中学生心理健康状况调查及家庭环境的影响因素

目的 研究上海市在校中学生的心理健康状况以及家庭相关影响因素,为心理健康干预措施提供指导。方法 于2011年12月采取分层整群随机抽样方法,抽取上海市7个区34个中学125个班级4 536名在校中学生进行调查。使用学生版长处与困难问卷(SDQ)以及自编儿童青少年家庭环境问卷采集信息,分析心理健康状况,采用二元Logistic回归分析探索家庭因素与心理健康状况的关系。结果 共收回问卷4 536份,其中有效问卷3 615份,有效率为79.7%。中学生总体心理问题异常检出率为9.1%,临界为11.0%。经常存在母子冲突和父子冲突的学生总体心理困难得分显著高于亲子关系和谐和一般的学生(P<0.05)。家庭因素中经常不和的父母关系(OR=1.351,95%CI:1.015~1.799,P=0.039)、母子冲突(OR=1.584,95%CI:1.133~2.216,P=0.007)和父子冲突(OR=1.461,95%CI:1.030~2.073,P=0.034)是影响中学生心理健康最重要的因素。结论 上海市在校中学生心理健康问题发生率与国际水平基本一致,父子冲突和母子冲突均是影响心理健康的重要因素,提示改善亲子冲突对维系中学生的心理健康水平很重要     

Difficulties associated with Reporting Radiographer working practices – A narrative evidence synthesis

ObjectivesThis narrative synthesis of evidence identifies and explores issues that impact upon the expansion or effectiveness of Reporting Radiographers working in all diagnostic modalities within the United Kingdom (UK). The publication focuses on working practices affecting trainees and qualified Reporting Radiographers.Key findingsFourteen studies informed the themes of this article, they were published between 2014 and 2021.Delays to commencement of reporting roles and variance in performance monitoring was common. Lack of formalisation, overly restrictive and out of date scopes of practice were also found. Whilst, staffing shortages contributed to underutilisation. Failure to utilise skills was most prevalent in cross sectional imaging modalities. Considerable variance in practice was also found between centres. Meanwhile, Reporting Radiographer involvement in professional development, education and research is far from universal and often dependant on individuals sacrificing their own time.ConclusionGovernance in many centres would benefit from renewal and standardisation, particularly relating to scopes of practice and performance monitoring audits. Measures are also required to encourage compliance with guidance, address staffing issues and reduce variation between centres. Failure to address these issues has the potential to impair collaboration, delay patient care and increase economic inefficiencies whilst negatively impacting satisfaction for service users and staff.Lack of involvement in professional development, education and research suggests Reporting Radiographers are not accomplishing their full potential, educating the next generation of the reporting workforce and driving evidence-based change for further development of the specialism.Implications for practiceBetter use of the existing workforce is essential to increase productivity, value, and security of Reporting Radiographer services, which are essential to improve patient outcomes and efficiency.     

Cognitive styles and psychological functioning in rural South African school students: Understanding influences for risk and resilience in the face of chronic adversity

Adverse childhood experiences can show lasting effects on physical and mental health. Major questions surround how children overcome adverse circumstances to prevent negative outcomes. A key factor determining resilience is likely to be cognitive interpretation (how children interpret the world around them). The cognitive interpretations of 1025 school children aged 10–12 years in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged area of South Africa were examined using the Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children (CTI-C). These were examined in relation to psychological functioning and perceptions of the school environment. Those with more positive cognitive interpretations had better psychological functioning on scales of depression, anxiety, somatization and sequelae of potentially traumatic events. Children with more negative cognitions viewed the school-environment more negatively. Children living in poverty in rural South Africa experience considerable adversity and those with negative cognitions are at risk for psychological problems. Targeting children's cognitive interpretations may be a possible area for intervention.     

Tobacco smoking during pregnancy and risk of adverse behaviour in offspring: A follow-up study

ObjectivesThis study examines associations between prenatal exposure to tobacco smoking and adverse behaviour in the offspring.MethodsWe included 1016 pregnant women from Greenland and Ukraine (526 from Greenland and 490 from Ukraine). Serum cotinine measurements were used to identify smoking pregnant women. When the children were from five to nine years of age, the parents assessed the child’s behaviour using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).ResultsOverall, smoking in pregnancy was not associated with a higher probability of adverse behaviour assessed by the total SDQ score. However, in the crude analysis smoking was associated with a higher mean difference of SDQ-total score. In Greenland the SDQ-total mean difference (MD) was (MD (95% CI) = 1.31 points (0.42; 2.19)) and in Ukraine (MD (95% CI) = 0.18 points (−1.2; 0.91)), whereas the adjusted mean differences were statistically non-significant.ConclusionsIn utero exposure to tobacco smoking was not associated with a significant higher risk of adverse behaviour in the offspring, but elevated risk of adverse behaviour among children prenatally exposed to smoking cannot be excluded.     

老门诊楼改造工程施工管理难点及对策

文章以山东省金乡县人民医院老门诊楼改造项目为例，介绍了施工过程中遇到的困难以及解决办法，供进行医院改建项目的基建管理者参考。