Ageist Attitudes Among Radiologic Science Professionals.

Purpose: To measure radiologic science professionals' current attitudes toward older adults.

Methods: The Geriatrics Attitude Scale (GAS) paper survey was distributed to radiology and radiation oncology personnel in a large, single teaching hospital system. The GAS provides a global measure of ageist attitudes using 14 questions and 4 subscales.

Factors Associated With Imaging of Nontraumatic Headaches in Virginia Emergency Departments.

Purpose: To explore whether patient-reported demographics and hospital classifications were significant factors in the likelihood that a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head would be ordered for nontraumatic headaches.

Methods: Nonexperimental, cross-sectional analysis was performed on a database that included 18 279 patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Information included in the analysis was diagnosis of a generalized, nontraumatic headache; patient age and sex; the treating hospital's profit status (ie, for-profit vs nonprofit); status of the hospital as a teaching institution; hospital location (ie, rural vs suburban and urban); diagnostic procedures ordered; and patient's insurance coverage (commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid).

Process Factors Affecting Reperfusion Time in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: To determine process factors impacting myocardial infarction reperfusion time.

Background: An ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening condition that necessitates emergent medical treatment; longer reperfusion times are associated with negative patient outcomes. Therefore, time is critical in the treatment of a STEMI.

Stress and Coping Styles of Radiologic Science Students.

Purpose: To explore the mechanisms U.S. radiologic science students use to cope with stress.

Emotional Well-being and Stress Among Radiologic Science Students.

Purpose: To assess the emotional well-being and levels of nonacademic sources of stress in radiologic science students in the United States.

Methods: Students in radiography and radiation therapy programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), a survey of personal and professional demographics and of nonacademic stressful life events. The data were used to generate a GHQ score and descriptive statistics.

Challenges Associated With X-ray Imaging of Stretcher-Bound Patients.

Patients often arrive at imaging departments on stretchers, and in certain circumstances they must remain on the stretcher for the imaging examination to reduce the likelihood of exacerbating injuries. Imaging stretcher-bound patients can be challenging, with many physical and technical variables to consider. These challenges occur because of differences between imaging a patient on a tabletop and imaging a patient on a stretcher.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant disease affecting the circulatory system. Risk factors include smoking, hypertension, sex, and a possible hereditary predisposition. AAAs remain asymptomatic for years, and various imaging methods are used in their detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Factors associated with HPV vaccine use among Hispanic college students.

Unlabelled: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and is linked strongly to cervical cancer. Hispanic women are at increased risk of cervical cancer from HPV due to lower screening rates with women in their early 20s at increased risk.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to describe HPV vaccination rates and possible barriers to vaccination among a sample of U.

Patient safety perceptions among vascular interventional technologists.

Objective: To describe perceptions of patient safety culture (PSC) among US vascular interventional technologists (VIR).

Methods: A letter to complete The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture online was distributed in the US to all full-time American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)-registered technologists with a primary discipline of cardiac-interventional or vascular interventional (n=3,184). Mean scores on each PSC dimension and overall outcome measures were calculated.

Dysphagia and an abnormal esophagram: a case report.

This case report details the history, diagnostic workup, and follow-up of an 82-year-old dysphagic African-American woman who presented for an esophagram/barium swallow study. Radiologic and endoscopic imaging results and findings are discussed. In addition, the patient's treatment regimen and follow-up care are presented to better educate the radiologic technology community.

Factors influencing success in RA programs: a survey.

Purpose: To assess the factors registered radiologist assistants and radiologist assistant (RA) students perceive to be most significant for success in an RA educational program.

Methods: An electronic survey was sent to graduates of and students currently enrolled in RA programs (N = 99) via their program directors. The response rate was 60.

Radiographer perceptions of managerial transformational leadership levels.

Transformational leadership focuses on the ability of a leader to impact employees by inspiring employees to broaden interests in work as well as to be innovative and creative. It is positively associated with employee satisfaction and commitment to the organization. Characteristics of transformational leaders include confidence, ability to mange and deal with complexity, and belief in their employees and organizations.

Determinants of job satisfaction among radiation therapy faculty.

Job satisfaction is one of the most significant predictors of employee retention in a variety of occupational settings, including health care and education. A national survey of radiation therapy educators (n = 90) has indicated that respondents are not satisfied with their jobs based on data collected using the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). To predict the factors associated with job satisfaction or dissatisfaction, the authors used a nine-item questionnaire derived from the MSQ.

Bladder cancer imaging.

Bladder cancer is a urinary system cancer, primarily afflicting older men. Smoking is the most significant risk factor. Symptoms include hematuria, urinary frequency or urinary urgency.

Factors affecting radiographers' organizational commitment.

Context: A variety of factors influence employees' attitudes toward their workplace and commitment to the organization that employs them. However, these factors have not been well documented among radiologic technologists.

Objective: To determine the predictive ability of selected organizational, leadership, work-role and demographic variables on organizational commitment for a national sample of radiographers.

Job satisfaction among radiation therapy educators.

Context: Job satisfaction is one of the most consistent variables related to employee retention and is especially relevant considering the shortage of radiation therapists and radiation therapy educators in the United States.

Objective: To investigate job satisfaction levels among radiation therapy educators certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and employed in programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Methods: The long form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was mailed to 158 radiation therapy educators to measure job satisfaction.

Academic tenure in radiologic technology--revisited.

Context: Academic tenure is important to most educators, including those in the radiologic sciences; however, many factors can influence an educator's ability to attain tenure.

Objective: This article empirically examines the concept of tenure among radiologic science educators using data from a national survey of registered radiologic technology educators.

Results: Greater proportions of tenured and tenure-eligible faculty held higher academic rank, had higher levels of education and were employed by 2- and 4-year colleges or universities compared with nontenure-track faculty.

Demographic and health factors associated with mammography utilization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of mammography utilization among women in 2002 and to compare it with Healthy People 2010 targets. Relationships between demographic and health factors and utilization were explored.

Methods: This study used data from 93,657 women completing the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, a population-based telephone survey measuring behavioral risk factors.

Professional profile of radiologic technology educators.

Objective: Full-time radiologic technology educators (n = 565) were surveyed to determine their demographic characteristics and professional profile.

Results: Overall, the majority of radiologic technology educators surveyed were women between the ages of 40 and 59, had a bachelor's or master's degree, were certified in radiography and reported annual incomes from 40,001 dollars to 60,000 dollars. Most educators spent between 1 hour and 8 hours per week on classroom instruction/laboratory and in the clinical setting.

Are women with self-reported cognitive limitations at risk for underutilization of mammography?

Functional limitations (namely, limitations in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living) have previously been demonstrated to exert a negative influence on mammography utilization. This study examines self-reported cognitive limitation in addition to sociodemographic, functional, and other health-related factors to determine their relationship with self-reported mammography use in the previous year. Data from the 1998 National Health Interview Survey was analyzed for 6,053 women, ages 50 years and older.