Scoping review of UK & Australia pre-registration diagnostic radiography programmes to support future advanced practice

At the point of entry level registration In the UK and Australia, newly graduated diagnostic radiographers are expected to be able to identify and convey knowledge about significant findings on axial, appendicular, chest and abdominal radiographs. This includes the ability to distinguish normal and recognise the presence or absence of abnormal findings that may be conveyed either verbally or in written form.

Previous research has predominantly focused on the evaluation of postgraduate education in the context of advanced practice for reporting diagnostic radiographers. Undergraduate education is critical in the development of ‘first post’ image interpretation capabilities but also provides a foundation for future advanced practice roles. This study aims to review the educational curriculum of undergraduate diagnostic radiography courses in the UK and Australia with a focus on the development of image interpretation knowledge, skill and attitude which may relate to roles upon either initial registration or subsequent advanced practice. This study will employ an in-depth qualitative content analysis of educational curriculum documents freely available in the public domain for a range of higher education institutes in the UK and Australia that deliver undergraduate diagnostic radiography courses. Content analysis is frequently used to analyse text data . Data will be extracted and coded prior to identification of emergent themes.

The aim of this study is to provide a comparative overview of practice in the UK and Australia, which may help to guide the development of educational programmes in providing the scaffolding for the future advanced practice workforce.