Challenges in developing effective psychological wellbeing strategies among clinical diagnostic radiographers: A qualitative study

The roots of healthcare delivery are premised on the core values of care and compassion. Research, however, indicates that the emotional costs of witnessing patients' pain and distress can adversely impact caregivers' ability to demonstrate compassion and empathy. Radiographers' roles are considered by many to be primarily technical and are often overlooked as a profession when considering practitioners psychological wellbeing. Building on the findings of recent research which evaluated the clinical factors impacting radiographers' psychological wellbeing in the UK, this research sought to evaluate the challenges radiographers face in developing effective wellbeing strategies.

A qualitative approach was used to generate data collection through in-depth one-to-one semi-structured interviews with twenty-three radiography practitioners working in the UK. Recruitment was undertaken via the research team's professional connections, the UKIO Congress Research Hub (2024) and the Society of Radiographers Live.

The reflexive thematic analysis generated three themes focussed on the challenges and strategies radiographers use in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing in practice; 'organisational culture of carrying on', 'moral injury' and 'fear of judgement and consequences'.

The three identified themes highlight the complex difficulties and challenges radiographers face in safeguarding their psychological wellbeing. Although guilt and stigma associated with mental health are not unique to radiography, factors such as role perception, the need to keep going and feelings of professional isolation must be addressed if radiographers are to be supported in sustaining their mental health.

Without addressing the institutionalised social constructs associated with mental health at an organisational level and the perceived inability of those experiencing difficulties to carry out their roles, stigma, discrimination and moral injury will persist. By challenging these constructs through education and openness, staff wellbeing, morale will be enhanced together with the delivery of care and compassion towards service users.