Workplace culture assessed by radiographers in Finland

The purpose of this study was to describe workplace culture from the radiographers' point of view.

Data collection was carried out in 2017 using a structured electronic survey in Finland. The target population were radiographers of working age (N = 1808) - response rate 38% (n = 689). The questionnaire included background questions and The Nursing Context Index -instrument developed by Slater and McCormack. Workplace culture is described in the domains of work-related stress (36 items), job satisfaction (18 items), and practice environment (24 items). The respondents rated their level of agreement to statements on a seven-degree Likert-scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 -software.

The results show that radiographers saw their workplace culture as slightly positive. They experienced some degree of stress caused mostly by workload, and least stress in relation to their career development. Radiographers were fairly satisfied in their work, with personal satisfaction featuring as the highest rated area of satisfaction, and pay and prospects as the lowest. The practice environment was perceived slightly positively. Radiographers wanted to stay in their current jobs, but felt that they had only a small degree of control over their work.

According to this study, workplace culture is experienced by radiographers on a moderate and slightly positive level. Because workplace culture is connected to quality of care and staff's work and organizational results, it is important to improve the culture that radiographers encounter, so as to create a healthy work community that offers productive and high-quality healthcare to patients.