Writing for reflection: Radiography students' experiences with reflective journaling

Reflective journaling is a widely recognised method of engaging in reflective practice, whereby individuals document their critical analysis of past experiences or actions, focusing on the implications and lessons learned for future application. In radiography and other healthcare professions, reflective practice is considered essential for professional development and should be cultivated during training. This study aimed to explore the experiences of senior radiography students in utilising the reflective journal as a clinical learning tool.

This study employed a phenomenological research design, with the study participants being third and fourth-year radiography students. Data collection took place after the introduction of reflective journaling, with nineteen participants having utilised the reflective journal daily, for a minimum of eight months. Individual interviews were conducted after obtaining the participants' consent. The collected data were analysed using Atlas. ti (version 9.3), guided by the content analysis framework.

The study revealed that participants experienced adaptation, characterised by reflective adaptation and process adaptation when utilising the reflective journal. Participants also encountered reflective barriers, including personal expression bias, inconsistent feedback, rumination overload, and impulsive practice dominance.

The findings demonstrate the benefits of reflective journaling in promoting critical thinking and reflective practice among radiography students. It is therefore recommended that this practice be fully embraced as a standard clinical component. Additionally, the frequency of reflections should be reviewed to ensure effectiveness and consistent feedback should be provided to enhance skills development.

The findings contribute further evidence to support the incorporation of reflective journaling in clinical training to promote critical thinking and reflective practice.