Radiography educator's perspective on advanced practice: A qualitative focus group study.

Area of Science:

• Radiography Education
• Advanced Practice
• European Higher Education

Background:

• The discourse on Advanced Practice (AP) in radiography highlights a need for harmonized European educational approaches.
• Variations in healthcare systems, policies, and curricula present significant challenges to standardization.
• This study explores European radiography educators' perspectives on AP education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate European radiography educators' views on Advanced Practice (AP) education.
• To identify common themes and challenges in AP training across different European countries.
• To inform the development of future AP radiography curricula in Europe.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design utilizing three focus groups with European radiography educators.
• Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke).
• Exploration of AP education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels within the European context.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two educators from nine European countries participated, identifying themes in AP definitions, postgraduate, and undergraduate education.
• A consensus emerged favoring master's-level education for AP, emphasizing clinical experience and mentorship.
• Educators advocated for integrating AP concepts into undergraduate curricula to foster critical thinking and research.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in the interpretation and implementation of AP among European radiography educators.
• There is a shared belief in introducing AP culture at the undergraduate level.
• National regulatory and curricular variations suggest a single European approach is problematic, necessitating clear frameworks and career paths.