From education to practice: A survey exploring the transition and outcomes of radiographer clinical reporting alumni from a UK higher education institution

Introduction: Clinical reporting, is an established enhanced and advance clinical practice role, as defined in the College of Radiographers (CoR) Education and Career Framework. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of a postgraduate diagnostic radiographer reporting training programme for
musculoskeletal (MSK), chest, and abdomen X-rays, selected Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and fluoroscopy examinations, by surveying alumni on post-training outcomes in clinical practice and career development.

Methods: The survey included quantitative (multiple-choice) and qualitative questions on the scope of practice, imaging modality, reporting sessions, supplementary roles, barriers and enablers. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistical analysis and thematic analysis.

Results: There were n = 82 completed responses, n = 80 (97.6%) went on to report after qualification, although for a variety of reasons (job role changes to management and leadership roles), only n = 73 (89%) were currently reporting. Data demonstrated a young workforce with a mean age banding of
31–35 years (n = 25; 30.5%), who are recently qualified between 2016 and 2020 (n = 37; 45%), with a postgraduate certificate (PgC) award (n = 35; 43%), working in an advanced practitioner role (n = 41; 50%) at NHS banding 7 (n = 57; 70%).
Conclusion: The results demonstrate the career outcomes and scopes of practice of the reporting radiographer workforce in England, trained at a single provider of reporting courses. The findings underscore the variables within and between post-training reporting practices, banding, roles and reporting targets.

Implications for practice: Further expansion of radiographer reporting training is needed to address role drift attrition of reporting staff into leadership and management roles. Future workforce planning should enable progression to MSc endpoint qualifications as an incentive to progress from the bottleneck of band 7 roles to consultant posts to retain reporting expertise within clinical services.