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Radiography

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/8

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    Examining the Impact of Cancer Treatment on Personhood: A Participatory Research Investigation into the Unique Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals
    (Elsevier, 2024-11-14) Hill, Gareth; Bulley, Catherine
    Purpose Cancer incidence is growing in the UK population and will affect half of all individuals in their lifetime, with most new diagnoses occurring over the age of 60 years old. Despite legal reforms and liberation of LGBTQ people’s rights in recent years, many LGBTQ people affected by cancer will have faced significant societal discrimination in their lives. The aim of this research was to explore how cancer treatment impacts on the personhood of LGB people, and to increase understanding of social issues specific to this community. Methods Underpinned by person-centred principles and Critical Social Theory, a community-based participatory inquiry was carried out with nine LBG people who had been affected by cancer. In two subsequent sessions, participants created an identity map and then reflected on how cancer and care experiences had impacted their identity. Initially, content analysis of transcripts was informed by Mezirow’s perspective transformation, followed by inductive thematic analysis within each data framework category. Participants were invited to provide feedback on the identified themes. Results The processes of coming out and facing a cancer diagnosis emerged as significant crises, leading to personal transformation. Factors such as past experiences of homophobia, duration of being openly out, and confidence in embracing altered identities influence interactions with healthcare providers and the level of support received. Conclusions This research makes a unique contribution by shedding light on the unreported support needs of LGB individuals affected by cancer, suggesting the need for additional assistance.
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    Help me to come out gracefully! Working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual, people affected by cancer to develop a national practitioner guide supporting inclusive care
    (Elsevier, 2023-02-23) Hill, Gareth; Bulley, Catherine
    Introduction: The healthcare support needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) and transgender community are becoming an emerging area of healthcare research. Providing person-centred care is World Health Organisation policy and as such it is important that Radiography services can demonstrate areas in which they are working with people to design, develop and feedback on the services that they receive. This research aimed to establish how cancer treatment impacted on the identities of LGB people, their experiences of care, and their engagement with developing a practitioner guide. Methods: This cooperative inquiry is underpinned by person-centred philosophy and participatory research principles. Participants were nine lesbian, gay, and bisexual people affected by cancer. Each engaged in two facilitated, audio-recorded conversations to explore their experiences of cancer care. An analytical framework based on Mezirow's Transformational Theory was used to organise the data, followed by detailed content analysis to develop themes. Results: Participants included men and women, aged 45–68, who had experienced different cancers. They explored how cancer treatment had impacted on them, and worked with the researcher and stakeholders to establish a seven-recommendation practitioner guide aimed at improving LGB people's care experiences. Their accounts revealed a broad range of issues that both corroborate and build on existing evidence. Themes highlighted expectations and experiences of both assumptions and prejudice in healthcare interactions. These experiences, along with misinterpretation of relationships with significant others, led to feelings of discomfort and reserve about self-expression. Findings of the research are presented in the following key areas: Dilemmas of attending oncology appointments; Inclusive experiences of care; and Formulation of the practitioner guide. Conclusion: The research findings enabled development of a national practitioner guide with the participants and key stakeholders to raise awareness of the needs of LGB persons affected by cancer and support better care. Implications for practice: By providing real-life accounts this research adds to understanding of how LGB persons interact with services, developing evidence to support cultural competence within the profession of Radiography and oncology services more broadly. © 2023 The Author(s)
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    The radiography students' perspective of the impact of COVID-19 on education and training internationally: a across sectional survey of the UK Devolved Nations (UKDN) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
    (2022-07-19) Elshami, W; Abuzaid, M M; McConnell, J; Stewart, S; Floyd, M; Hughes, D; McClintick, Catherine; Eckloff, K; Leishman, L; McFadden, S

    Introduction

    The overnight change in hospital practice and service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic raises the question whether undergraduate radiography students received an adequate clinical experience. Many students had their clinical placements cancelled, deferred or replaced with simulated learning. As a way of dealing with the pandemic some hospitals were dedicated to COVID-19 patients only resulting in many elective procedures being cancelled. Many patients also chose to stay away from the hospital out of fear of infection or the desire to reduce the burden on staff. This resulted in a limited range of examinations and clinical experience for those students who were able to complete their clinical placement.

    Aim

    This study aims to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the education and training of radiography students internationally in the United Kingdom Devolved Nations (UKDN) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to determine any possible impact on their future careers.

    Method

    Ethical permission was sought and granted from the Research Ethics Committees (ID: 21-04-12-02 and ID:21/0032). An online survey was developed using Google Forms and link was shared with students via email.

    Results

    262 students participated in the study [UAE (n = 60, 23%) and UKDN (n = 202, 77%)]. 72% stated that their clinical skills have improved and 82% were confident in the choice of radiography as a career. Participants from UAE displayed a higher tendency towards anxiety (p = 0.009). Students who were on clinical placements during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with COVID-19 positive patients displayed less ongoing concern relating to COVID-19 (p = 0.004). 78% of the participants did not require wellbeing advice or request any type of wellbeing support from the higher education institutions (HEIs). Nevertheless, the study found that wellbeing of students was found to be negatively affected during the pandemic.

    Conclusion

    Completing clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed the continuation of education as students were allowed to improve their skills, confidence and resilience in coping with uncertainties and challenges. Undergraduate students should not be excluded from the clinical department during subsequent waves of COVID-19 or future pandemics to ensure continued workforce planning is possible.

    Implications for practice

    HEIs should find solutions to compensate students for the loss of practical experience and skills due to the decreased number of patients in some areas of radiography practice. Providing academic and career counselling can assist students achieve their professional objectives and decrease the risk of attrition and problems upon qualification.
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    Patterns of extra-spinal left-right skeletal asymmetries and proximo-distal disproportion in adolescent girls with lower spine scoliosis: ilio-femoral length asymmetry & bilateral tibial/foot length disproportion
    (IOS Press, 2006) Burwell, R. G.; Aujla, R. K.; Freeman, B. J. C.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Cole, A. A.; Kirby, Alanah; Pratt, R. K.; Webb, J. K.; Moulton, A.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Uyttendaele, D.
    Anomalous extra-spinal left-right skeletal length asymmetries have been detected in girls with adolescent idiopathic (AIS) in four sites (1) upper limbs, (2) periapical ribs, (3) ilium, and (4) right leg and right tibia. This paper on adolescent girls with lower spine scoliosis reports (1) a fifth pattern of left-right ilio-femoral length asymmetry associated with sacral alar height asymmetry, and (2) bilateral anomalous lengthening of the tibia relative to the foot. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that at the time of diagnosis of AIS in girls there are anomalies of skeletal proportions associated with a predisposition to curve progression; these proportions are in three dimensions--left-right, cephalo-caudal in the trunk (proximo-distal in the lower limbs), and front-back in the trunk. The origin of these anomalies is unknown but possible causes, and of the associated AIS, are genetic and environmental factors acting in embryonic life not expressed phenotypically until years after birth.
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    Endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer: 20 Years of prospectively collected data from a single center
    (American Cancer Society, 2008-05-15) Storey, D. J.; Rush, Robert; Stewart, Moira; Rye, Tzyvia; Al-Nafussi, Awatif; Williams, Alistair R.; Smyth, John F.; Gabra, Hani
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    Etiologic theories of idiopathic scoliosis: enantiomorph disorder concept of bilateral symmetry, physeally-created growth conflicts and possible prevention.
    (IOS Press, 2006) Burwell, R. G.; Freeman, B. J. C.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Aujla, R. K.; Cole, A. A.; Kirby, Alanah; Pratt, R. K.; Webb, J. K.; Moulton, A.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Uyttendaele, D.
    The detection of anomalous extra-spinal left-right skeletal length asymmetries in the upper limbs, periapical ribs, ilia and lower limbs of subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) raises questions about skeletal bilateral symmetry of vertebrates in health and disorder, its origin and control. The vertebrate body plan externally has mirror-image bilateral symmetries that are highly conserved culminating in the adult form. The normal human body can be viewed as containing paired skeletal structures in the axial and appendicular skeleton as 1) separate left and right paired forms (eg long limb bones, ribs, ilia), and 2) united in paired forms (eg vertebrae, sternum, skull, mandible). Each of these separate and united pairs are mirror-image forms--enantiomorphs. Left-right asymmetries of growth plates (physes) may cause (1) in long bones length asymmetries, (2) within one or more vertebral physes putative growth conflict with distortion as deformity, and (3) between ribs and vertebrae putative growth conflict that triggers thoracic AIS suggesting preventive surgery on spine and ribs. There is evidence of a possible role for environmental factors in AIS development. Genes and the environment (nature/nurture) may interact pre- and/or post-natally to explain both the deformity of AIS and its association with widespread anomalous skeletal length asymmetries. If substantiated there may ultimately be a place for the prevention of AIS in some subjects.
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    Etiologic theories of idiopathic scoliosis: the breaking of bilateral symmetry in relation to left-right asymmetry of internal organs, right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and vertebrate evolution.
    (IOS Press, 2006) Burwell, R. G.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Freeman, B. J. C.; Aujla, R. K.; Cole, A. A.; Kirby, Alanah; Pratt, R. K.; Webb, J. K.; Moulton, A.; Dangerfield, P. H.; Uyttendaele, D.
    In the search to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) some workers have focused on mechanisms initiated in embryonic life including a disturbance of bilateral (left-right or mirror-image) symmetry highly conserved in vertebrates. The normal external bilateral symmetry of vertebrates results from a default process involving mesodermal somites. The normal internal asymmetry of the heart, major blood vessels, lungs and gut with its glands is also highly conserved among vertebrates. It results from the breaking of the initial bilateral symmetry by a binary asymmetry switch mechanism producing asymmetric gene expression around the embryonic node and/or in the lateral plate mesoderm. In the mouse this switch occurs during gastrulation by cilia driving a leftward flow of fluid and morphogen(s) at the embryonic node (nodal flow) that favors precursors of the heart, great vessels and viscera on the left. Based on the non-random laterality of thoracic AIS curves, the hypothesis is suggested that an anomaly of the binary asymmetry switch explains the excess of right/left thoracic AIS. Some support for this hypothesis is the prevalence of right and left scoliosis curve laterality associated with situs inversus. There is recent evidence that vertebrates within their bilateralised shell retain an archaic left-right asymmetric visceral body organization evident in thoracic and abdominal organs.
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    Back shape assessment in each of three positions in preoperative patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: evaluation of a 10-level Scoliometer method interpolated to 18-levels.
    (IOS Press, 2002) Burwell, R. G.; Aujla, R. K.; Cole, A. A.; Kirby, Alanah; Pratt, R. K.; Webb, J. K.; Moulton, A.
    A Scoliometer was used by one observer (RKP) to assess the reproducibility of angle of trunk inclinations (ATIs) in 13 preoperative patients with AIS (thoracic 7, thoracolumbar 6, mean Cobb angle 50 degrees, right 9, age 15.4 years, girls 10). Three positions were used namely standing forward-bending, (FB) sitting FB and prone. Readings of ATI on the back were obtained at each of 10 levels (T1-S1). The subject was repositioned after walking around the room and a second set of readings obtained (repeats). All readings were converted by a computer program to 18 levels and plotted. The readings from 18 levels were analysed by level, as well as summated and averaged both without and with correction for the side of the curve. Conclusions. Back surface asymmetry measured with a Scoliometer in these preoperative patients with AIS is less in the prone position than in each of the forward bending positions. The standing FB position has the best reproducibility which supports the practice of using this position to measure Scoliometer ATIs in preoperative patients with AIS.