Experiences of Diagnostic Radiographers Imaging People from Prison in Acute Hospitals in the UK: Phase One Findings from the EXPOSE Study.

INTRODUCTION

People in prison experience significant health disparities and rely on acute hospitals for secondary care, including diagnostic imaging. Despite this, little is known about how diagnostic radiographers experience imaging people from prison in acute hospital settings. This study aimed to examine these experiences in the UK.

METHODS

This paper reports the Phase One survey dataset from the EXPOSE study, a wider doctoral programme. A cross-sectional survey was conducted as Phase One of a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study. Registered diagnostic radiographers in the UK with experience in imaging people from prison were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected via an online survey and analysed using descriptive statistics to identify patterns and variation in reported experiences. Phase Two qualitative findings will be reported separately.

RESULTS

Fifty-five diagnostic radiographers participated. Most reported high confidence and perceived ability to deliver comparable care. However, 40% indicated that knowledge of offence history influenced their professional approach to some extent. Physical restraints were commonly encountered, with inconsistent documentation of clinical risk. Workflow, radiation protection, MRI safety, and patient positioning were frequently affected. Communication practices were altered for many participants. Despite minimal reported impact on image quality, variability in practice was evident. Most participants reported no formal training and limited awareness of the equivalence of care principle, relying primarily on informal coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic radiographers reported sustaining imaging delivery despite security-related, operational and ethical challenges. The variability in restraint-related processes, information-sharing and local protocols identifies conditions that may threaten consistent, person-centred care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Imaging departments should develop local pathways covering clinical-prison role boundaries, physical restraint decisions, proportionate information-sharing, modality-specific guidance, escalation and access to organisational support.