ISRRT - Report - Education

Report - Education

Education Committee

Director of Education:
Cynthia Cowling

Regional Coordinators:

Lori Boyd: The Americas

Pam Rowntree: Asia/Australasia

Jenny Motto: Africa

Ian Henderson: Europe

WHO Global Initiative on Radiation Safety in Health Care Settings Workshop on

Second NIRS KIDS WORKSHOP-WHO Satellite Meeting

Radiation Risk Assessment in Pediatric Healthcare

NIRS HQ, Chiba, Japan, 15-17 December 2009

I was delighted to be able to represent ISRRT at this session which covered all aspects of radiation risks to children. I gave a presentation on the Role of the Radiographer in dose reduction and have attached my presentation for your interest and/or use.

Attendees and presenters included radiation scientists, epidemiologists, radiologists, pediatricians, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and one radiographer.

The final day consisted of a satellite hook up with representatives from IAEA and WHO in Vienna where the main discussion revolved around how to move forward on the Global Initiative. It was agreed by all that the multi-disciplinary approach was critical. I was pleased that the WHO representatives made special mention of the importance of including radiographers and technologists and indicated that ISRRT was the best and most appropriate source for this connection. Dr Perez, who heads this Initiative, has some funds to develop improved communications at all levels and this will include ISRRT. It is important for us to continue representation at these activities. WHO paid for all my expenses and I was made most welcome by all and was able to make some excellent contacts.

A workshop summary is in progress and I will circulate when it is finalized.

Cynthia Cowling

Director of Education

Report on RSNA Visit November 2009

Cynthia Cowling: Director of Education

My main purpose was to deliver a presentation entitled

Imaging Through a Cross-cultural Lens: A Global Perspective on Values,

Norms, Mystiques

and Fears

This 90 minute presentation was part of the Associated Sciences Refresher course section. I presented with my colleague Lori Boyd from Toronto.

The RSNA provides a comprehensive feedback system and the speakers and session received a very respectable 4.14 average out of 5 in all sections. There were also some very

useful constructive criticisms which will help us to improve the session should we be asked to repeat it. Most encouragingly many attendees expressed interest in the huge disparities

between the have and have not nations, a message ISRRT only is able to send. I would like to devise a survey for our council members so that we can have some more

sound research presented. I have included the abstract and objectives for your information at the end of the report.

I also attended several meetings

1 Informal meeting with CEOs and Presidents of UK, Canada and USA as well as accrediting agencies. ISRRT hosts this meeting and it provides an opportunity for the

countries represented to see what the ISRRT is doing. I reported on the Educational focus and re-enforced some items brought up at our Hong Kong meeting concerning future

endeavours. There was considerable discussion on the survey and how the Board will respond. It was

emphasised that the survey was done at the request of the Council and ISRRT must be cautious to meet their needs. There was a perception among some that it appeared little was happening as result of the survey but were

reassured when it was explained that there had been considerable discussion at the Board meeting with some provisional strategies, tabled

until the Council could provide input. The ISRRT President proposed a compromise whereby the original working group provide some feedback re future strategies based on

results. This is currently under discussion with ISRRT board members. JCERT, the accrediting agency in USA was very keen to work with ISRRT on our

Accreditation project.

2. Image Gently, the Alliance formed to assist in Pediatric Dose reduction provided a helpful information session. I would like to strongly recommend that all Board members go

to their web site. www.imagegently.org and specifically look at the excellent free modules on how to reduce Pediatric Doses in CT, developed by ASRT. I would like these to be

highlighted in our website and also in the education section. I used some of the material learnt from this and also some lectures I attended when I represented ISRRT at a WHO

meeting in Japan.

3.WHIA. I met with representatives from this group ( which has changed somewhat since our first discussions) . They are still interested in having ISRRT assist with education process

associated with the installation of simple digital units in Guatemala. Philippe Gerson has provided an excellent reference person with both Spanish and Digital expertise. My concern

continues to be that one train of thought by this group is to take any persons from the hospital environment and train them as digital users in a very short period. Since we know

there are many qualified radiographers already in Guatemala, my very firm stance is that these radiographers should be upgraded to digital skills. We are still waiting on dates for

installation. Things move slowly in Guatemala!

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to attend the RSNA. It proved a very enriching

experience.

ABSTRACT

Imaging Through a Cross-cultural Lens: A Global Perspective on Values,

Norms, Mystiques and Fears

At its core, radiography is the acquisition of radiographic images to help diagnose and treat patients within clinical practice. There are however, many

factors which impact on the success of procedures and resultant quality of images. The operatorclient relationship is often influenced by cultural values
and norms which can vary considerably. Optimal images are dependent both on operator skill and client compliance which comes with a sense of trust

critical to the fiduciary relationship.

This can be difficult to achieve within the physical environment of a radiology department and can also be impeded by cultural expectations and

cultural conflict. Western societies that stress individual rights tend to focus on health practices that are embedded in this worldview such as the

requirement for informed consent and maintenance of confidentiality of patient information. In contrast, more hierarchical

cultures often defer to elders for decision-making whereas communal cultures may involve community leaders in a shared decision-making process.

Gender and religious issues can also affect the provision of high quality procedures with same gender care being a requirement within some cultural

groups and gowning procedures that maintain cultural values frequently being an expectation. In addition, in many countries in the developing world,

radiation still has mystique and fear associated with it, affecting participation in screening programs and recruitment to

medical radiation technology educational programs. This presentation will present findings that will help to contextualize these issues through a cross-

cultural imaging lens.

Objectives

1. To discuss the concept of culture in relation to the healthcare environment

of North America

2. To contextualize cultural issues with regard to patient and technologist

perspectives within a North American healthcare environment

3. To discuss the impact culture has on patient health outcomes

4. To describe the concept of a culturally competent health practitioner

5. To consider the impact of global differences in ethical codes, scopes of practice and professional practice expectations

6. To identify and discuss issues that arise from globalization of education and accreditation

7. To consider the possibility of harmonization of educational standards, codes of ethics and accreditation requirements for medical radiation

technology

December 31 2009