Radiographer role extension in Oman - Current practice and future opportunities

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiography Practice

Background:

• Role extension for radiographers in Oman is not well-documented.
• Understanding current practices and attitudes is crucial for service improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nature and extent of radiographer role extension in Oman.
• To evaluate radiographer and radiologist opinions on role extension.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 189 radiographers and 77 radiologists across 13 Omani hospitals.
• Questionnaires collected data on current and future role extension activities.

Main Results:

• Over half of radiographers (53.3%) perform extended duties, mainly in gastrointestinal studies.
• 21% interpret images, particularly in emergency settings; 40% administer intravenous injections.
• Both groups support radiographer role extension, though with inter-hospital variations.

Conclusions:

• Radiography role extension is prevalent in Oman.
• Omani radiographers possess adequate skills and education for extended roles.
• Role extension offers cost-effectiveness, improved teamwork, and service delivery benefits.