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Retaining therapy radiographers: What’s so special about us?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2007

Heidi Probst  and
Sue Griffiths
Heidi Probst*
Affiliation:
Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
Sue Griffiths
Affiliation:
Cookridge Hospital, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
*
Correspondence to: Heidi Probst, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

High therapist vacancy rates and an unsatisfied workforce reduce the opportunity to meet waiting time targets or maintain high standards of care. Current vacancy rates may conceal true staff shortages because of financial pressures. Levels of job satisfaction among the therapy radiographer workforce are presently unknown. A multi-phase study to investigate job satisfaction of therapy radiographers in the United Kingdom is under way. Phase I was an interpretive grounded theory study and, as interviews progressed, a review of the literature on job satisfaction was warranted (in line with the principles of grounded theory). The purpose of this article is to evaluate the literature on job satisfaction as a way to inform the development of retention strategies within the radiotherapy profession. The discussion is focused under the following three themes identified from our phase I study: job design, leadership and organisational governance, stress and burnout. A number of models within the wider literature can inform retention strategies for radiotherapy managers. In particular, the job characteristics model and the model for job-specific well-being adequately identify factors that are relevant to the work of a therapy radiographer. Ensuring mental challenge through job design and continuing professional development opportunities is vital to retaining staff. Support from immediate managers is also a crucial aspect of workers development of intentions to leave. Manager support can moderate experiences of job stress, limiting job dissatisfaction and reducing leaving intentions. Stress and burnout have been cited as significant in reducing job satisfaction in health workers. In the United States, high levels of emotional exhaustion among radiation therapists highlight the potential for the development of burnout within the UK therapy workforce. The discussion looks at the importance of these characteristics within a general retention strategy and recommends future areas of study.

Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , March 2007 , pp. 21 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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