Abstract ISRRT, Dublin 2020.
Title: “I just do what I am told to”. Patient Care and Involvement in Radiographic Practice.
Authors: Susanne Holm, Bo Mussmann, Finn Olesen.
Affiliation 1. UCL University College, Denmark. Health science research center:
Diagnostics and Treatment - CONRAD.
2. Aarhus University, Denmark. Graduate School of Arts, Institute of Communication and Culture - STS Center.
Objective
The aim of the study was to examine: A) what thoughts and conceptions of care and involvement patients under investigation for lung cancer had, in relation to selected CT examination situations. And B) how technologies, shaped the
relations between patients and professionals and their experiences, in the diagnostic imaging practice.
Method
A qualitative ethnographic study that applied semi structured interviews and participant observations as its data collection methods. It included five cases with patients in Fast Track Cancer Referral Programs, undergoing CT scanning procedures in two hospitals. Two patients had conventional CT scanning of the thorax performed, and three patients had CT guided lung biopsy interventions performed.
Results
Based on the interviews, results showed that patients expectations of receiving care, predominantly consisted of being received in a kind, personalized manner.
In relation to involvement in the procedure, four out of five patients reported readiness to do as they were told, complying with requests put to them.
Based on the observations, the concepts of care and involvement were challenged in their formal meanings, and found to be entangled in complex interactions within sociotechnical boundaries.
Conclusions
Patient’s expectations of receiving care and being involved in the diagnostic imaging procedures, was expressed in noncommittal terms and overshadowed by their focus on getting through the examination, in order to get an answer to their tentative diagnose.
The concepts of care and patient involvement were negotiated and
reconceptualized within the sociotechnical framework of the diagnostic imaging situation of the individual patient.
