The EFRS Radiographers Research Hub was launched at ECR 2019, providing opportunities for radiographers to lead and participate in research. The Hub was highly successful, with 249 radiographers and student radiographers from over 30 countries (spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas) taking part– an overwhelmingly positive response. This resulted in 437 participations across the seven different research projects on offer. All participants were provided with EFRS certificates of participation.
The EFRS Board approved a pilot Research Hub at this year’s ECR following a proposal from Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging, School of Medicine, University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland. The planning and management of the Hub was led by Prof Louise Rainford, Associate Dean for Radiography in UCD and Dr Rachel Toomey, the Image Perception lead in UCD.
The primary goals of the Hub include:
- To engage radiographers and students with the research process, both as participants and researchers
- To facilitate high-quality science in radiography-related areas
- To encourage collaboration between radiographers across disciplines and countries
The projects at the inaugural Research Hub were all radiographer-led, with topics ranging from the perceptual processes used by radiographers, to appropriateness of imaging requests, to continuous professional development. PhD research studies, for three students, supported by the Hub:
- Robin Decoster, Osidee University, Belgium & UCD, Ireland
- Catherine Chilanga, University of South Eastern Norway (USN), Norway
- Jennifer Grehan, School of Medicine, UCD, Ireland
These students joined a team of staff from UCD and colleagues from the University of South Eastern Norway (led by Dr. Hilde Olerud and Dr. Kristin Bakke Lysdahl) in Vienna to assist in the running of the Hub. The research team anticipate multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations arising from the 2019 Research Hub, and Notification of these will be published by the EFRS on our website.
The Hub was fully supported by the EFRS and ESR – including, logistical support and promotional materials and t-shirts - to ensure the inaugural EFRS Radiographers Hub was a success for our profession. Several external organisations also supported the Research Hub. Medical grade displays were kindly provided by Barco; iPads were generously made available by the UCD Innovation Academy; and software was developed specifically for the Hub (and used in 5 of the 7 experiments) by Ziltron Ltd.
The outstanding response to the Hub attendees at ECR demonstrates the zeal of radiographers for research and expanding the profession’s evidence base, and the EFRS will continue to back opportunities for this. Future plans for the Research Hub are under review, information for those wishing to run, or participate in, studies at ECR 2020 will be issued in the coming months.
The EFRS extends its sincere gratitude to the all of those who took time to join in the research and to thank all the researchers who made the Hub a reality.
We look forward to seeing you in Vienna for ECR 2020!
