Reflection on a Medical Imaging Study Day: MSc Coursework Analysis

This report reflects on a study day concerning Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) within the context of an MSc in Medical Imaging Advanced Practice. The reflection utilizes the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to analyze the study day's impact on professional practice, service delivery, and patient care. The report describes the study day's content, focusing on cost considerations related to CT and MRI scans. It explores the student's feelings, evaluations, and analysis of the issues raised, including the economic disparities in healthcare access. The analysis considers potential improvements, such as the inclusion of stakeholders like policymakers and equipment manufacturers, to address cost-related challenges. The report concludes with an action plan, suggesting that study days should focus on technical aspects and that addressing cost concerns requires broader stakeholder involvement. The author emphasizes the importance of empathy towards patients with limited financial resources and highlights the value of redirecting them to charitable institutions. The report references multiple sources to support its analysis and conclusions.

MSc Medical Imaging
Advanced Practice – Negotiated Independent Work-Based learning
(Course work activity #1)
"Using an appropriate model, critically reflect on what was learned from a study day or
departmental seminar that you have recently attended relating to your specified area of
study. Consider how the knowledge gained has enhanced the quality of your
professional practice, benefited service delivery and patient care”
Total words: 1000
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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................................4
2.0 Gibbs Reflective Cycle.....................................................................................................4
2.1 Description....................................................................................................................5
2.2 Feelings.........................................................................................................................6
2.3 Evaluation.....................................................................................................................6
2.4 Analysis........................................................................................................................6
2.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................................7
2.6 Action Plan...................................................................................................................7
3.0 Conclusion....................................................................................................................7- 8
References..............................................................................................................................8
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1.0 Introduction
A study day is an intense session where students congregate in the presence of a tutor
or a peer. To make it more interesting and engaging, the study day revolves around a specific
theme, however, they cover a wide range of issues and topics for debate. The study day
comprises of an array of brief talks that are convened by experts from the pertinent domain.
One of the main features of the study day is that it offers a platform for discussion and allows
students to voice any queries that they might have. Keeping this in mind, the study groups are
usually small in size and follow an informal approach to stimulating interaction. Besides,
study days also present students with a tremendous opportunity to hear about the latest
developments in the field and acquire valuable insights into the topic in question.
During my course, I had been presented with the opportunity to attend a highly
engaging study day consisting of Computed Tomography (CT scan) and Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) and I got acknowledged to new findings and knowledge regarding those
topics. Since my domain of study is medical radiography, this particular CT scan and MRI
study day that I was a part of covered topics such as Computed Tomography (CT) and
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Overall, it was a highly engaging day where I was able
to gain new insights and hear about valuable perspectives from others. Through this paper, I
intend to present a reflection of the learning from the study day and how it helped me
enhance the quality of my professional practice (Glaize et al., 2019). The reflection will be
based on the ‘Gibbs Reflective Cycle’ model which is widely used in the domain of
healthcare (Emery & Chang, 2017, July).
2.0 Gibbs Reflective Cycle
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The reflective cycle presented by Professor Graham Gibbs is specifically beneficial as
it allows people to learn from scenarios that they frequently experience, particularly when
things do not go as per plans (Tanaka, Okamoto & Koide, 2018). This model comprises of six
critical reflection stages (Tanaka, Okamoto & Koide, 2018) and is outlined as under:-
Figure 1: Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Source: Adopted From (Gibbs, 1988)
2.1 Description
While the study day covered several technical aspects related to MRI and CT which
provided valuable inputs into the latest developments in this domain, one student raised the
issue of cost (van Beek et al., 2019). MRIs and CT scans are quite expensive and a large
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amount of money is required to be spent to get it done. Cost is one factor that impedes and
restricts people from undergoing a CT or an MRI scan. There is the usage of radio waves and
magnetic fields in MRI which can cause any DNA mutation. This can lead to the
development of adverse health effects. It can also produce claustrophobia. In a CT scan, high
doses of radiation are involved (Lafferty, 2016).
2.2 Feelings
Considering that every nation has people belonging to the economically weaker
sections of the society, getting an MRI or CT is beyond their reach. In the same way, the
strong sections of the society can afford the costs of getting an MRI or CT scan. In developed
nations, even people from economically weaker sections are covered under insurance but
most developing nations do not have mandatory insurance coverage (Waltz, 2019). Though I
was aware that the costs were high I had seldom given it a thought. This leads to
accumulation of diseases in the weaker sections of the society due to which they cannot
progress. The costs of MRI and CT scan be only be paid by the economy classes of the
society. This brings a gap between the economy and non-economy sections of the society
(Lafferty, 2016). When the question was raised, I felt quite helpless as there is nothing much
I could do as an individual to help patients to overcome the hurdles to meet the expense of the
tests.
2.3 Evaluation
According to my evaluation, how the topic was handled was quite well. However,
there were some negative views too where students felt that CT and MRI should not be
recommended for economically weak people (Cherry & Czernin, 2019). My reaction was that
if that is the case, it would be tantamount to denying the fundamental right of the
patient/citizen. Right to health is a fundamental right. The right states that every individual
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should enjoy the standards of health that are attainable irrespective of race, religion. Political
belief, economic or social condition. Also, it was observed that costs for CT / MRI varied
according to hospitals (Sistrom & McKay, 2005). This also raised the issue of hospitals that
work for a profit. The better part of the discussion was that it made us think about adopting
ways that can reduce costs for diagnostic imaging procedures in contrast; the negative aspect
was that there was no immediate solution in sight (Özcan et al., 2019).
2.4 Analysis
According to my perception, I feel that the event would have been further enhanced if
the session would have included some stakeholders such as; policymakers, diagnostic
equipment manufacturers, hospital administrators, etc (Lafferty, 2016). They would have
been in a position to present their perspective as to the variation in costs within hospitals, for
diagnostic imaging, high equipment costs and what policymakers are doing to make
diagnostic imaging accessible to the economically weaker sections. Ultimately, humans
themselves are responsible for creating this gap among economically rich and poor people in
the society (Husebø, O'Regan & Nestel, 2015).
2.6 Action Plan
Since questions related to costs are not directly linked with us as diagnostic
radiographers, it would be best if appropriate instructions are passed before a study day. This
means that the study should only focus on the technologies and the equipment working
methods. Nothing related to costs or human welfare must be included in the study
(Viswanathan, MohamedMarzooth & Merlin, 2017). Students should be informed that their
questions should only be technical and cost-related or any aspects that happen to be beyond
our scope need not be touched upon. Though it might look like avoiding this very pressing
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concern, if such questions have to be encouraged, it would be better to include stakeholders
to gain their inputs (Kale, 2019).
3.0 Conclusion
On the whole, the study day was a very enriching experience. Not only did we gain
several valuable insights into the latest developments in the domain of diagnostic imaging
such as Lung CT which is now possible(Imaging Technology News, 2016), but we acquired
other insights too. Particularly, the aspect related to costs which everyone concerned is aware
of but are not willing to raise the issue. Costs impede the delivery of diagnostic imaging
which further hampers the diagnosis and treatment procedure. The government can play a
vital role in this by ensuring that the costs for diagnostic imaging is uniform across hospitals
and offer substantial rebates to patients who are unable to afford. From this experience, I
learned that I need to be empathetic to such patients who are restrained by costs. Whenever I
encounter a patient who has limited financial resources, I redirect them to charitable
institutions where they only have to pay a nominal fee. This allows them to leverage the
potential of technology for getting their ailments diagnosed. As a practitioner of medical
radiology, my response would have been different. I would have first pointed out that doctors
are known to be working in tandem with hospitals on a commission basis. Doctors get a
commission on the number of people they refer to a hospital for CT / MRI. This highlights
the overutilization of diagnostic imaging in healthcare today(Kim et al., 2011). This trend can
be reversed if doctors use discretion and only recommend CT/MRI if it is very essential.
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References
Cherry, S. R., & Czernin, J. (2019). Discussions with Leaders: A Conversation between
Simon Cherry and Johannes Czernin. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 60(3), 295-298.
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Emery, C., & Chang, J. (2017, July). Reflection in a new light: updating Gibbs' reflective
cycle on a foundation degree in healthcare sciences. In HEA Conference, generation
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simulation. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 11(8), 368-375. DOI:
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Kim, J.S.M., Dong, J.Z., Brener, S., Coyte, P.C. & Rampersaud, Y.R. (2011). Cost-
effectiveness analysis of a reduction in diagnostic imaging in degenerative spinal
disorders. Healthcare policy Politiques de sante. [Online]. 7 (2). p.pp. e105-121.
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Lafferty, F. W. (2016). The Major Cause of Rising Health Care Cost with Decreasing
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t+it+done&ots=iJCt5Q716X&sig=2cnfjA0rD03f0JpYpYM32EsawnE#v=onepage&q
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Özcan, E., Birdja, D., Simonse, L., & Struijs, A. (2019). Alarm in the ICU! Envisioning
patient monitoring and alarm management in future intensive care units. In Service
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