Received: December 07, 2007
Accepted: April 18, 2008
Ref: Ugwu AC, Egwu OA, Nwobi IC, Oluware NF. Occupational stress among radiographers: the impact of sonography responsibility. Internet Journal of Medical Update 2009 Jan;4(1):3-6.
OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AMONG RADIOGRAPHERS: THE IMPACT OF SONOGRAPHY RESPONSIBILITY
Mr. Anthony Chukwuka Ugwu† MSc, Mr. Ogugua Austine Egwu‡ MSc, Mr. Ivor Chigozie NwobiØ BSc, and Mr. Nnaoma Franza OluwareØ BSc
†Department of Radiography, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, Nigeria
‡Department of Anatomy, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
ØDepartment of Radiography, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
(Corresponding Author: Mr. Ugwu Anthony Chukwuka, Department of Medical Radiography, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria, Email: tonybullng@yahoo.ca)
ABSTRACT
Role extension in any occupation can affect both psychosocial and biomechanical stress levels and thus, have some consequences on efficiency in service delivery. The study was aimed to determine the impact of role extension of medical radiographers into sonography. 50 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to radiographers and to sonographers (radiographers with sonography responsibility). The questionnaires included questions seeking information on the demographic profile of the radiographer and sonographer, anatomical regions of biomechanical symptoms/stress and visual analogue scale (VAS), which rated job satisfaction and anxiety levels. 96% of the questionnaires were returned and analyzed statistically using SPSS 11.0 software with P< 0.05 indicating level of significance. Sonographers had more prevalence of biomechanical stress symptoms than the radiographers. Job satisfaction for sonographers (58.75%) was lower than that for radiographers (64.29%). Anxiety level was higher among sonographers even though this was not statistically significant. Sonography responsibility on radiographers did not have any significant effect on psychosocial stress. A balance in the extended role could aid efficiency in service delivery while improving the social strength of the individual.
KEY WORDS: Occupational stress; radiographers; sonographers