Unseen guidance: Radiographers' challenges and practices in supporting blind and visually impaired patients

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Healthcare Accessibility
• Patient Care

Background:

• Blind and visually impaired (VI) individuals face significant healthcare access barriers.
• Radiographers' preparedness to serve VI patients is largely unexamined.
• This study investigates radiographer knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers in the UAE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess radiographers' current capabilities in caring for VI patients.
• To identify specific barriers hindering effective care for VI individuals.
• To inform the development of targeted educational and institutional support strategies.

Main Methods:

• An online, prevalidated questionnaire was distributed to 122 radiographers using convenience and snowball sampling.
• The survey adhered to CHERRIES guidelines, assessing demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers.
• Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and comparative tests, with strong test-retest reliability (r = 0.82).

Main Results:

• Most radiographers provided verbal explanations (83.6%) and offered extra time (80.3%).
• Higher experience (≥10 years) correlated with better communication competence and practice adherence.
• Key barriers included insufficient training (64.8%), technology challenges (59.0%), limited resources (54.1%), and restrictive policies (50.0%).

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps in radiographer knowledge and practices necessitate targeted educational interventions.
• Clinical experience alone is insufficient; formal training in VI patient care is essential.
• Institutional support, updated curricula, and continuing professional development are vital for equitable radiographic care.