Radiography Student Stressor and Bullying

Radiography Student Stressor and Bullying

Abstract

Purpose: Education policymakers should create an enabling learning environment for students by addressing incivility issues such as stress and bullying and find lasting solutions to enhance their concentration for better results. Perhaps, consistent stress and bullying can affect the performance of students negatively. This study investigated the radiography students’ perception of incivility to get a clear picture. Method: the researcher conducted a survey research method to find out the occurrence and ferocity of incivility cases among radiography students. Additionally, the study examined the available strategies to combat such instances for better learning. Results: Findings reveal that many cases of incivility such as placement, communication, and workload steered by the educators, especially supervisors who have stretched further to students. Findings also reveal that formal training of educators is among the key strategies to combat incivility cases in radiography classes. However, some participants denied reports of incivility cases and credited their supervisors. Conclusion: Participants in this study revealed mixed perceptions concerning incivility. They further pointed out different kinds of incivility issues, such as placements. Besides, the research shows there is a need to promote formal training for educators since it plays a significant role in fighting against incivility. However, the issue of incivility brought a mixed reaction from different participants, which opened a window for future research of various elements of incivility among radiography students.

Keywords: radiography education, educators’ incivility, performance disruption, learning environment.

Radiography Student Stressor and Bullying

School’s environment contributes much to students’ performance: thus, a suitable learning environment characterizes the excellent performance of students. Incivility, such as bullying in the learning institutions, in this case, radiography education, is of great concern, which calls for an intervention. Therefore, it is essential to review peer studies to find outpointed elements of incivility, suggested solutions, and the strategies available to counter such cases. Additionally, a literature review will facilitate a comparison of cases studied, which can give limelight on the best solution. Similarly, through a literature review, the researcher can identify research gaps for future studies.

As claimed by Clark & Wagner (2019), incivility cases in radiography education are real and require a long-lasting solution, since it has negatively affected the competence of learners. Perhaps, people should embrace strategies such as formal training for educators to counter such practices in learning institutions (Clark, 2017). On that note, civility trainers should train educators on how to balance work and conduct placement to avoid possible discrimination, such as overworking some students. This paper explores the incivility occurrences and severity in radiography education as well as counter-incivility strategies available.

Methodology

The researcher first identified the research topic and from it formulated research words, such as students’ incivility, radiography student, and radiography students’ perception of stressors. Further, used radiography word, documents source (journal and articles) as well as time range (not older than five years) to narrow the search result. Which, minimized search time to find the sources to use in this study.

The synthesis matrix was vital in analyzing and reviewing the literature. First, it helped in organizing the research for a proper review. Further, it visually reflected the main points contained in the literature, which directed much concentration to the necessary points. Besides, it aided in integrating information from different sources, thereby revealing ideas that overlap and probably made it easier to identify research gaps.

Discussion

The study identified workload, placement, and formal training as the main issues that contribute to incivility cases in conjunction with stress and bullying in radiography education. The impacts of these themes are as discussed below.

Workload

According to Turner, O’Leary & Ramlaul (2016), several students revealed that they worked under pleasure as well as stress due to workload they had to attend to without proper assistance. Additionally, they reported a communication breakdown between the learner and the supervisor, which stresses students when trying to express their views. Clark & Wagner (2019) claim that stress caused by understaffing, which leads to students being overworked, is an incivility issue that stakeholders should address. Further, Cohen & Legg (2019) reveal that the majority of students’ participants strained during working, which reduced their levels of emotional well-being as a result of a stressful working environment.

Perhaps, several peer-reviewed sources agreed on the fact that there is incivility, in this case, stress contemporary to workload in radiography studies, which also affect the performance and competence of students: hence, the issue is alarming.

Placement

Unfair or unstructured placement of students affects their competence: yet, some educators/supervisors practice in radiography education. Mawson & Miller (2020), reveal that stress related to placement affect psychological, social well-being of learners, which later affect their competence and lack of confidence in their educators during placement exercise. Inversely, some participants denied cases of incivility related to placement and praised their supervisor, claiming that the exercise is well conducted, which enriches their learning outcomes (Asare, 2017). Additionally, Ramlaul & O’Leary (2016), reveal that students embrace the responsibilities that come with placement since it builds their confidence in actual practice. However, students raised issues that supervisor rarely give feedback, which denies them chances to assess themselves (Asare, 2017).

Nonetheless, the literature reviewed showed a mixed reaction of the participants. Some reported incivility cases related to placement, while others embraced arrangement showing no incivility issues. Hence, this calls for future research to examine elements of incivility thoroughly with a large study size.

Formal Training

Incivility is an issue that attracted various strategies to deal with it. Rosenbaum (2016), reveals that more incivility cases are in classrooms among students and educators. Hence, Clark (2017), suggest that policymakers should install training programs for radiography educators/supervisors to train them on how to handle and manage students to eliminate incivility in education. Therefore, the research review that incivility is not only in educators but also among students. Additionally, the training of educators seems to be an effective way of combating incivility.

Conclusion

Incivility in radiography education is real, and it occurs in various ways. The study revealed that students are experiencing incivilities, such as stress and bullying contemporary of unfair placements, workload, and poor communication, which impact their competence and performance. However, some participants denied such cases, instead embraced placement as a way of enriching their work skills. Subsequently, training of educators if well promoted and practised can reduce instances of incivility. Hence, the research revealed that more study is needed to explore elements of incivility in education and progress of training programs. Further, the research has laid down a foundation for future research on medical imaging and radiation therapy since the study was not large enough to cover it.