Being a radiographer: A socio-cultural comparative ethnographic study

This study investigates being a radiographer in diverse environments, through the non-technological, lived experiences of radiography work. It examined the socio-cultural factors impacting that practice, so as to determine the recognition of radiography as a profession with potentially global standards of practice. Previous studies had investigated medico-social and technical factors of but none had taken a global, socio-cultural perspective to researching the work of radiographers. The study was undertaken in seven countries, each with varied socioeconomic and cultural dimensions of such work. An ethnographic approach based on a social constructionist paradigm was used to interpret findings from thematic analysis of country-specific policies and scopes of practices, artefacts, fieldwork observation notes, researcher journal and semi-structured interviews with 35 radiographers. Data analysis constructed key concepts that were used to develop individualised country reports: the work of the radiographer, technology, relationships and socio-cultural issues. Hofstede’s (1984) cultural dimensions were used as a further analytic device to describe the culture of each country. The results from the seven country reports were then compared, and three paradoxes emerged in relation to cross-cultural interpretations: technology and humanistic practice; isolation and infiltration; and work culture and country culture. These findings offer insight into the socio-cultural practice of radiography through an ethnographic cultural-specific lens. The study introduced empirical evidence into a subject matter hitherto unexplored in a global comparative manner, and creates an opportunity to improve the recognition of radiographers by creating a foundation of research upon which to build further more targeted studies.