[Causes of Impatience in Radiological Technologists and Its Influence on Work]

Area of Science:

• Radiological technology
• Healthcare professional behavior
• Workplace psychology

Context:

• Impatience is a recognized factor contributing to workplace incidents.
• Radiological technologists (RTs) face unique workplace pressures.
• Understanding RTs' impatience is crucial for improving patient safety and workflow.

Purpose:

• To investigate the specific causes of impatience in radiological technologists.
• To identify the effects of impatience on the work performance of RTs.
• To explore the relationship between experience level and impatience-related work impacts.

Summary:

• Exploratory factor analysis of 148 RTs revealed three key impatience drivers: awareness of interprofessional collaboration (doctors and nurses), patient presence, and time pressure.
• Two significant work impacts were identified: lack of confirmation during examinations and lack of confirmation before/after examinations.
• Regression analysis indicated that less experienced RTs, and those with higher awareness of interprofessional collaboration and time, were more prone to confirmation errors post-examination.

Impact:

• Findings highlight specific triggers for impatience in RTs, informing targeted interventions.
• Identified work impacts, such as confirmation errors, directly affect patient care quality and safety.
• The study provides a foundation for developing strategies to mitigate impatience and its negative consequences in radiological settings.