A small scale qualitative study to investigate the interaction between psychiatric patients and diagnostic radiographers in one Irish hospital

Based upon this small study, the results suggest that newly qualified radiographers do not feel confident in their own abilities when interacting with psychiatric patients and would welcome and benefit from specific training with regards to strategies to deal with psychiatric patients. The radiographers reported that particular areas which may be improved upon are more information on psychiatric illnesses, manifestations of different types of psychiatric illness and the subsequent effect on patients. A larger study encompassing the whole of the Republic of Ireland would be valuable as a precursor to a European comparative study in order to investigate this phenomenon at a deeper level. Additionally it is recommended that further research is conducted within a wider European context on student radiographers and lecturers teaching on undergraduate radiography courses to ascertain if this topic is addressed at undergraduate level.