Knowledge, attitudes and practice of infection prevention and control in the CT suite.

BACKGROUND: Infection, prevention, and control (IPC) practices are essential to protect patients and staff within healthcare facilities. Radiology departments cater to both inpatients and outpatients, and breaches of IPC practice have led to outbreaks of disease within healthcare facilities. This study aims to examine the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) of computed tomography (CT) radiographers and nurses in their infection, prevention, and control (IPC) practice. The KAP components focuses on the CT environment, contrast injector use, and workplace factors that impact IPC practice. METHODS: A cross-sectional KAP survey was distributed online to Australian CT radiographers and radiology nurses across different institutions. The survey covered demographics, each KAP component, and workplace culture. Spearman's correlation was used to compare KAP scores. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the KAP scores between demographic categories, and Chi Square was used to compare demographic data with workplace culture. RESULTS: There were 147 respondents, 127 of which were radiographers and 20 were nurses. There was a moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude for radiographers (rho = 0.394, p < 0.001). Radiographers also had a moderate positive relationship between attitudes and practice (rho = 0.466, p < 0.001). Both radiographers and nurses scored high in the knowledge section of the survey, but nurses had statistically significant higher practice scores than radiographers (p = 0.014). CT radiographers who had an IPC team in their workplace or worked in public hospitals, had statistically significant higher attitudes and practice scores. Age, education, and years of experience did not impact on KAP scores. CONCLUSION: The study found that radiographers and nurses had a good baseline knowledge of standard precautions. IPC teams and continued training is important to positively influence knowledge and attitudes of health professionals towards IPC practice. The KAP survey was a useful tool to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice on IPC of CT radiographers and nurses and identified areas for education, interventions, and leadership.

Radiographers' actions and challenges when confronted with inappropriate radiology referrals.

OBJECTIVES: To explore radiographers' actions toward inappropriate referrals and hindrances to assessing referrals. METHODS: An online survey was distributed to radiographers via the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) networks. The questionnaire consisted of 5-point Likert scale questions on radiographers' actions to supplement referral information, actions for unjustified referrals and hindrances to referral assessment. The questionnaire was validated using a test-retest reliability analysis. Kappa values ≥ 0.6 were accepted. SPSS software was used for data analysis and chi-square tests to compare subgroups. RESULTS: Total responses received were 279. The most reported actions to supplement missing referral information were to ask the patient or relative, examine the body region of concern and check medical records (73%, 70%, 67%, responded often/always, respectively). The actions when confronted with unjustified referrals were reported equally to consult the radiologist, referring clinician and radiographer (69-68% often/always responses). The hindering factors ranked high (agreed/strongly agreed responses) pertained to inadequate information in referral forms (83%), ineffective communication among healthcare professionals (79%), lack of training (70%) and allocated time (61%). Statistically significant associations were observed for a few actions and hindrances with education level, modality of practice and responsibility to screen imaging referrals. CONCLUSION: Radiographers consult colleagues about suspected unjustified referrals. Effective communication pathways, training and time allocation to improve radiographers' skills to assess referrals may enhance appropriate imaging and delivery of quality patient care. KEY POINTS: • Radiographers' actions of supplementing missing information in radiology referrals facilitate provision of high-quality health services. • Radiographers' strategy when confronted with inappropriate referrals is to consult radiologists and referring clinicians. • Better inter-professional communication and organisation of tasks can facilitate radiographers' participation in referral assessment to ensure appropriate imaging.

The value of referral information and assessment - a cross sectional study of radiographers' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Radiology professionals are frequently confronted with referrals containing insufficient clinical information, which hinders delivery of safe and quality medical imaging services. There is however lack of knowledge on why and how referral information is important for radiographers in clinical practice. This study explores what purposes referral information is used/ useful for the radiographers, and the benefits of involving them in assessing referrals. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted of radiographers recruited through the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) networks. A questionnaire was developed and distributed consisting of 5-point Likert scale questions on a) use/usefulness of referral information for 12 listed purposes and b) the benefits of radiographers assessing referrals for 8 possible reasons. The questionnaire was validated using a test-retest reliability analysis. Kappa values ≥0.6 were accepted. SPSS software was used for data analysis and chi-square tests to determine associations between using referral information and background variables. RESULTS: Total respondents were 279 (n = 233 currently in clinical practice and n = 46 in other positions). The participants in clinical practice ranked high all 12 listed purposes for use of referral information, and all except one received ≥60% 'frequent'/'very frequent' responses. Use for patient identification purposes received the highest score (97% 'frequently'/'very frequently' responses), followed by ensuring imaging of the correct body region (79% 'very frequently' responses). Radiographers not currently working in clinical practice ranked the 'usefulness' of listed items similarly. Significant associations between frequent use of referral information and education level were not observed, and only three items were significantly associated with modality of practice. All items on benefits of radiographers assessing referrals received ≥75% 'agree'/'strongly agree' scores. The items ranked highest were promotes radiographers' professional responsibility and improves collaboration with radiologists and referring clinicians, with 72 and 67% strongly agreed responses, respectively. CONCLUSION: Radiographers use referral information frequently for several purposes. The referral information is needed for justifying and optimising radiological procedures, hence crucial for ensuring patient safety and high-quality services. This further emphasis why radiographers perceive several benefits of being involved in assessing the referral information.

PACS downtime drill: testing departmental workflow with an enterprise imaging viewer and archive.

In today's workflow, radiologists rely on the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) to view images. Unplanned downtime causes significant delays in patient care and lengthy downtimes can have lasting effects on patient care and end-user confidence. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the planning and implementation of a disaster drill where the departmental PACS was taken off-line and the hospital enterprise viewer was used for departmental image interpretation.

American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) social media committee workgroup: best practices for the use of social media in emergency radiology.

Social media has become integrated within the profession of medicine, and emergency radiology has inevitably felt the impact of its presence. Emergency radiologists are encouraged to consider the advantages of embracing the digital era and the benefits it may bring to our careers. We aim to present the best practice guidelines for emergency radiologists and radiology departments. This paper is a product of the American Society of Emergency Radiology Social Media (ASER) Committee workgroup and represents the best practices of the society.

The use of imaging in COVID-19-results of a global survey by the International Society of Radiology.

OBJECTIVES: This survey conducted by the International Society of Radiology and supported by the European Society of Radiology aimed to collect information regarding radiology departments' current practices in the management of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Responses from 50 radiology departments involved in the management of COVID-19 patients representing 33 countries across all continents were analyzed. The analysis revealed important variations in imaging practices related to COVID-19 across the world for different disease severity and various clinical scenarios. RESULTS: Imaging is usually not performed in asymptomatic patients (69% of institutions do not image) but is used at the end of confinement (in 60% of institutions). In the majority of institutions, chest imaging is used in suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19 (89% and 94%). All imaging departments involved in this survey reported the use of imaging in COVID-19 patients showing severe symptoms or who were critically ill. However, there is a wide variation in imaging modality type used for each clinical scenario. The use of imaging is applied in line with existing guidelines and recommendations in 98% of institutions with structured reporting recorded in 58% of institutions. The vast majority of institutions reported a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the imaging department's routine activity (83%). CONCLUSION: We believe that the results of this survey will help to understand current heterogeneities in radiology practice and to identify needs and gaps in the organization and function of radiology departments worldwide in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this survey may inform the development of an overall strategy for radiology department organization and imaging protocols in pandemic conditions. KEY POINTS: • The results of this survey, which included responses from 50 radiology departments representing 33 countries, showed important variations in imaging practices related to COVID-19 across the world. • While imaging is usually not performed in asymptomatic patients (69% of institutions), it is used in suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19, in COVID-19 patients showing severe symptoms or who were critically ill, and at the end of confinement (89%, 94%, 100%, 100%, 60% of institutions, respectively). However, there is a wide variation in imaging modality type used for each clinical scenario. • In 98% of institutions, the use of imaging is applied in line with existing guidelines and recommendations, with structured reporting recorded in 58% of institutions. COVID-19 pandemic made a significant impact on the imaging department's routine activity in 83% of institutions.

Short report: factors determining perceived stress among medical staff in radiology departments during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Medical staff in radiology departments faces a higher risk of infection and a heavier workload during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. High perceived stress levels endanger physical and mental health and affect work efficiency and patient safety. Therefore, it is urgent to understand the perceived stress levels of medical staff and explore its risk factors. We recruited 600 medical staff from the radiology departments of 32 public hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, to evaluate perceived stress scores via a mobile app-based questionnaire. The results showed that the perceived stress level among medical staff in the radiology departments during the COVID-19 outbreak was high and a sense of tension was strongly present. A positive correlation was found between anxiety score and perceived stress. Multivariate analysis showed that risk factors for perceived stress were female, existing anxiety, and fears of being infected at work, an uncontrollable outbreak, and not being able to pay rent or mortgage. Conversely, good knowledge about COVID-19, being unmarried, and working in a higher-grade hospital were protective factors for perceived stress. Therefore, more attention should be given to medical staff in the radiology departments that present the risk factors outlined above. Timely risk assessment of psychological stress and effective intervention measures should be taken for these high-risk groups to keep their perceived stress within normal limits.

Identifying Areas for Operational Improvement and Growth in IR Workflow Using Workflow Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization Techniques.

Identifying areas for workflow improvement and growth is essential for an interventional radiology (IR) department to stay competitive. Deployment of traditional methods such as Lean and Six Sigma helped in reducing the waste in workflows at a strategic level. However, achieving efficient workflow needs both strategic and tactical approaches. Uncertainties about patient arrivals, staff availability, and variability in procedure durations pose hindrances to efficient workflow and lead to delayed patient care and staff overtime. We present an alternative approach to address both tactical and strategic needs using discrete event simulation (DES) and simulation based optimization methods. A comprehensive digital model of the patient workflow in a hospital-based IR department was modeled based on expert interviews with the incumbent personnel and analysis of 192 days' worth of electronic medical record (EMR) data. Patient arrival patterns and process times were derived from 4393 individual patient appointments. Exactly 196 unique procedures were modeled, each with its own process time distribution and rule-based procedure-room mapping. Dynamic staff schedules for interventional radiologists, technologists, and nurses were incorporated in the model. Stochastic model simulation runs revealed the resource "computed tomography (CT) suite" as the major workflow bottleneck during the morning hours. This insight compelled the radiology department leadership to re-assign time blocks on a diagnostic CT scanner to the IR group. Moreover, this approach helped identify opportunities for additional appointments at times of lower diagnostic scanner utilization. Demand for interventional service from Outpatients during late hours of the day required the facility to extend hours of operations. Simulation-based optimization methods were used to model a new staff schedule, stretching the existing pool of resources to support the additional 2.5 h of daily operation. In conclusion, this study illustrates that the combination of workflow modeling, stochastic simulations, and optimization techniques is a viable and effective approach for identifying workflow inefficiencies and discovering and validating improvement options through what-if scenario testing.

'Walk in my shoes': intradepartmental role shadowing to increase workplace collegiality and wellness in a large pediatric radiology department.

BACKGROUND: Our nearly 500-member department implemented the shadowing program "Walk in My Shoes" to improve intradepartmental relationships and build a stronger sense of community. The program provides both clinical and non-clinical employees an opportunity to shadow colleagues in their various roles and learn more about one another's contribution to the overarching mission of caring for children and their families. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of the shadowing program on employee perceptions of various roles. OBJECTIVE: To bridge the gap of understanding among colleagues in order to strengthen workplace interrelatedness, increase understanding of various roles, and decrease preconceived notions about roles, through shadowing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A preliminary survey distributed to our department in August 2018 assessed the level of interest in new wellness initiatives, including the shadowing program. The survey gauged which roles participants were interested in shadowing. The survey results revealed that 67 employees were interested in the shadowing program. We selected 39 participants and matched them to a coworker in their area of interest. The roles for shadowing included administrator, Child Life specialist, information technologist, medical assistant, nurse, radiologist, researcher and technologist. Participants were required to complete pre- and post-shadowing surveys to assess their experience. Individuals who hosted the shadow experience also completed a survey. RESULTS: A total of 39 clinical and non-clinical staff members participated in the program. We summarized the pre- and post-survey data using median and interquartile range (IQR) and compared the results using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The distribution of preconceived notions about each role was not significantly different between the pre- and post-surveys (P=0.094). However, participants' value, understanding of the role they shadowed, and understanding of how the roles relate to each other were significantly greater (P<0.001). In addition, participants showed great interest in shadowing the specific role again (82%) and shadowing another role (92%). Furthermore, almost all hosts would repeat the experience (96%). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that intradepartmental shadowing can improve clinical and non-clinical staff employees' perceptions and understanding of each other's roles in overall patient care, which in turn contributes to the broader initiative of workplace wellness. The enthusiasm and willingness of the hosts were essential for sustainability of the program and demonstrated that this type of program is feasible in a large, busy department.

Effect of Implementation of Picture Archiving and Communication System on Radiologist Reporting Time and Utilization of Radiology Services: A Case Study in Iran.

We aimed to determine the effect of PACS implementation on the radiologist reporting time and utilization of radiology services in a hospital in Iran. This study was conducted in three 6-month periods (before PACS implementation, immediately after the implementation, and 1 year after implementation). Data related to reporting time of CT examinations were collected from 5074 patients with 6613 examinations and compared using the Friedman test. The utilization rate of radiology services was conducted about CT scans and radiographies. Therefore, 17,862 patients with 36,321 radiographies and 7155 patients with 10,571 CT scans were evaluated, and the ratio of the number of examinations to the number of patients and patient days was compared in three periods. The mean of reporting time on CT scan examinations in the period of immediately after PACS was changed compared to the period of before PACS from 13.05 to 24.18 days and compared to 1 year after PACS implementation, to 4.14 days (P value < 0.05). The utilization rate in CT scans, 1 year after PACS increased at least 10% to 25% compared to the immediately after PACS and before implementing PACS. The utilization rate in radiographies, 1 year after PACS, increased at least 16% to 78% compared to the immediately after PACS and before PACS implementation. In conclusion, the mean of the radiologist reporting time for CT scans is significantly decreased by PACS in the long-term. Additionally, the utilization rate of radiology services is increased in the short- and long-term after PACS implementation in most examinations of CT scan and radiography examinations.

Radiographers' experience of risks for patient safety incidents in the radiology department.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe potential risks for patient safety incidents in the radiology department from a radiographer's perspective. BACKGROUND: A radiology department is a high-tech environment with high communication activity between different healthcare systems in combination with a large patient flow. Risks for patient safety incidents exist in every phase of a radiological examination. Due to the nature of the activity, a radiology department needs to have its own range of measures to prevent risks linked to radiology. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 17 radiographers during the period September 2015 to February 2016. The data were analysed using conventional content analysis. This study followed the COREQ checklist criteria for the reporting of qualitative research. RESULTS: The analysis yielded 20 different patient safety incidents that could result in the following six types of healthcare-associated harm: Patients could be exposed to unnecessary radiation; patients could receive an inaccurate diagnosis; patients could incur drug-induced damage; patients could suffer direct physical injury; or, their examination and treatment could be delayed or not carried out; or, their general health condition could deteriorate. CONCLUSION: Lack of communication and knowledge, both internally and externally, can increase risks for patient safety incidents. The study describes a complex chain of activities that represent risks in the radiology department. It needs to be pointed out that it is not always the activities in the radiology department that cause the harm. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To carry out preventive patient safety work, a comprehensive analysis of the entire care chain is required. Patient safety work should also focus on improvement in communication both internally, within the radiology department, and externally. Standardised methodological guidelines, consistent prescriptions of method from the radiologist and a good working environment are internal success factors for patient safety at the radiology department.

Incidence rate of physical and verbal violence inflicted by patient and their companions on the radiology department staff of educational hospitals of medical university, Kermanshah, 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Regarding the increasing risk of violence toward employees in diagnostic and therapeutic centers, radiology staff members are often exposed to forms of violence through direct contact with patients and with many professional stresses. The aim of this study is to investigate the causes and incidence of violence against radiographers in radiology departments of educational centers and hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive-analytic study, violence incidence was investigated in all 121 radiographers working in radiology departments of educational centers of Kermanshah in 2016. Data were collected by a reliable and stable researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was also performed using descriptive statistics and T test and Chi-square tests by STATA 11 software. RESULTS: The results showed that 72.7% of radiographers had experienced violence in their work environment. Verbal violence (77.3%) was the most prevalent type where patient accompaniments were the most frequent cause of violence (54.7%), most of the violence incidents were at night shift (43.6%) and over-crowdedness was the most common cause of violence in the radiology department (21.0%). The verbal violence against radiographers younger than 40 was significantly higher (P = 0.04) than the age group above 40 years. CONCLUSION: The incidence of verbal violence against radiographers in radiology departments is high which can be reduced by providing adequate human resource and equipment in radiology departments, re-training courses on the prevention and management of violent behavior and the suing the violent events against radiologists.

Radiology response in the emergency department during a mass casualty incident: a retrospective study of the two terrorist attacks on 22 July 2011 in Norway.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of radiology in the emergency department (ED) in a trauma centre during a mass casualty incident, using a minimum acceptable care (MAC) strategy in which CT was restricted to potentially severe head injuries. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the initial use of imaging on patients triaged to the trauma centre following the twin terrorist attacks in Norway on 22 July 2011. RESULTS: Nine patients from the explosion and 15 from the shooting were included. Fourteen patients had an Injury Severity Score >15. During the first 15 h, 22/24 patients underwent imaging in the ED. All 15 gunshot patients had plain films taken in the ED, compared to three from the explosion. A CT was performed in 18/24 patients; ten of these were completed in the ED and included five non-head CTs, the latter representing deviations from the MAC strategy. No CT referrals were delayed or declined. Mobilisation of radiology personnel resulted in a tripling of the staff. CONCLUSIONS: Plain film and CT capacity was never exceeded despite deviations from the MAC strategy. An updated disaster management plan will require the radiologist to cancel non-head CTs performed in the ED until no additional MCI patients are expected. KEY POINTS: • Minimum acceptable care (MAC) should replace normal routines in mass casualty incidents. • MAC implied reduced use of imaging in the emergency department (ED). • CT in ED was restricted to suspected severe head injuries during MAC. • The radiologist should cancel all non-head CTs in the ED during MAC.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Radiology Department Employees and Trainees in Al-Qassim, 2021.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology department employees and trainees. It also compared the impact of COVID-19 to the pre-COVID-19 era in the Al-Qassim region. Methods This was a quantitative observational analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the largest government hospitals under the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Al-Qassim. A pre-determined questionnaire was distributed among radiology staff that included demographic characteristics, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among radiology staff, the behavior of staff related to COVID-19 infection, and the assessment of mental health using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results Eighty-four radiology staff were recruited (64.3% males vs 35.7% females). Of these, 66.7% were trainees and the rest were employees (33.3%). Of the trainees, 32.1% and 42.9% thought that elective imaging, procedures, and outpatient/clinic exposures were reduced during the pandemic, and 37.5% indicated that their training had been affected negatively. The prevalence of depression among radiology staff was 36.9%. The prevalence of depression was substantially higher among radiology trainees (p=0.038), those who were not infected with COVID-16 (p=0.041), and those who indicated that their studying time increased at the time of the pandemic (p=0.047). However, after conducting multivariate regression analysis, these variables did not seem to have significantly affected depression (p>0.05). Conclusion Training and medical education have been affected negatively because of the outbreak. Studying time and research activities of employees and trainees slowed down, which could be critical to their careers. Trainees complained about the significant reduction in their exposure to clinics and imaging procedures. Therefore, a method to safeguard the well-being of employees and trainees in the radiology department is necessary to limit the impact of such pandemics.

Formalising written preliminary image evaluation by Australian radiographers: a review of practice value.

The Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA) minimum competency framework requires all Australian radiographers to identify significant pathology in radiological images and take appropriate action to alert these urgent findings and ensure patient safety. Despite professional bodies endorsing the provision of preliminary image evaluations (PIE) in written format, radiographer image interpretation often remains inconsistent, informal, or undocumented. The purpose of this narrative review was to assess the literature to determine if PIE in the form of written radiographer comments is of value to the Australian healthcare system. A structured search was completed using four health research databases: CINAHL, Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Studies have suggested that there is a contextual need for commenting due to increased imaging service pressures, radiologist shortages and subsequent reporting delays. Radiographers appear well placed and willing to provide accurate initial input with evidence that this would be valued and appreciated within the multidisciplinary team. Radiographer commenting has also been shown to reduce diagnostic and communicative errors with the potential to improve patient management. Finally, it was shown that participation in image interpretation practices can enhance recruitment, retention and job satisfaction among radiographers. Therefore, the current literature supports implementation of radiographer commenting within the Australian healthcare system.

International cooperation in radiology training: A multipronged approach.

INTRODUCTION: Medical imaging has undergone significant technical advancements in recent years, posing a considerable challenge for radiologists to stay up-to-date with emerging modalities and their applications in daily practice. This challenge is even more daunting in developing countries with limited resources compared to the US and other developed nations with greater economic assets. The collaboration between the United States and other advanced nations with radiological institutions in Latin America has been a significant achievement in the pursuit of new opportunities for continuous medical education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of international collaborations among Spanish-speaking Latin American institutions and radiologists through a survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of radiologists and institutions from various countries, including the USA, Spain, and Argentina, who have been working together for several years to improve Radiology education across Latin America, were selected. An online survey was conducted. The survey included questions about interest in the activities, participation, and impact of radiologic education during these educational efforts. RESULTS: The survey received responses from 166 participants, all of whom reported knowledge of at least one type of educational activity. The most well-known activity was ALAT Webinars. The primary motivators for participation were the quality of the content and the opportunity to learn new information. Additionally, improving local education in radiology and receiving expert advice on radiology issues were identified as priorities for participation in international collaborations. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was calculated for individual and global Likert questions, resulting in a global score of 0.96. CONCLUSION: The study confirms the significance of a multifaceted approach to address gaps in radiology education. While traditional models have relied on hosting international visitors or sending US teachers abroad, the results suggest that using a variety of methods will have a greater impact than relying on a single technique for those who benefit most from collaborative efforts.

Coaching in a Radiology department.

Coaching is an effective tool that seeks personal reflection as a way for people to find their own solutions. In this article we show our results when applying it in our Radiology Service. The article includes a bibliographic review on its potential applications in Medicine and in Radiology. We specifically reviewed the fields of improving self-care and preventing burnout as well as the teaching field, both for residents in training and for certified radiologists.

Development of minimum data set and dashboard for monitoring adverse events in radiology departments.

Background: To reduce the risk of errors, patient safety monitoring in the medical imaging department is crucial. Interventions are required and these can be provided as a framework for documenting, reporting, evaluating, and recognizing events that pose a threat to patient safety. The aim of this study was to develop minimum data set and dashboard for monitoring adverse events in radiology departments. Material and methods: This developmental research was conducted in multiple phases, including content determination using the Delphi technique; database designing using SQL Server; user interface (UI) building using PHP; and dashboard evaluation in three aspects: the accuracy of calculating; UI requirements; and usability. Results: This study identified 26 patient safety (PS) performance metrics and 110 PS-related significant data components organized into 14 major groupings as the system contents. The UI was built with three tabs: pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure. The evaluation results proved the technical feasibility of the dashboard. Finally, the dashboard's usability was highly rated (76.3 out of 100). Conclusion: The dashboard can be used to supplement datasets to obtain a more accurate picture of the PS condition and to draw attention to characteristics that professionals might otherwise overlook or undervalue.

Medical students within the Radiology Departments: Drawback or opportunity?

University Radiology training has been carried out for years out of the Radiology Departments, where radiologists play their professional role. However, the educational needs and the leadership of the Scientific Societies make the Radiology Departments to be involved more and more in that training, though it has to be done in overloaded professional environments where medical students can be seen as a drawback. Nevertheless, radiologists must play an important role in the Radiology training of the future doctors for optimising the use of diagnostic imaging techniques and enhance the future of the specialty by bringing to our Departments those medical students who had demonstrated the most adequate personal profiles. The Radiology Department is that place to succeed by increasing the healthcare outcomes, the research results and the visibility of Radiology through a fruitful interaction between radiologists and medical students.

The impact of periodic social events on personal emotional intelligence: Radiologists' experience at an Egyptian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Radiologists need to learn more about the management of their emotions and their impact on individual well-being as well as proper communication within the radiology realm. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between joining social events organized by the radiology department of Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital and the emotional intelligence of radiologists. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 82 radiologists at the Radiology Department of Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. This was preceded by a pilot study among radiologists, and modification of the questionnaire items to be more precise. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: it assessed sociodemographic, personnel, and workplace characteristics of the participants; social events' related factors, and emotional intelligence of radiologists. RESULTS: 52.4% of radiologists had moderate emotional intelligence scores, and 24.4% had high emotional intelligence scores. High emotional intelligence scores were significantly associated and positively correlated with the increased participants' years of work experience and frequency of attending social events, and the overall impression of the events. The radiologists' overall impression of the social events was the only significant independent predictor of a high emotional intelligence score. CONCLUSION: The majority of the participants in this study had moderate to high emotional intelligence scores. The social events that were organized by the radiology department succeeded in crossing-over the gaps in communication and workflow knowledge that take place due to significant personnel turnover and should be considered for improving team preparedness and communication in similar workplaces.