Akyurt N., Elshami W., Tekin H. O.
JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH AND APPLIED SCIENCES, cilt.18, sa.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Özet
Abstract
Objective
To assess the workload and available workforce of
radiographers in radiology units during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods
This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included 166 radiographers working in radiology departments of hospitals in Istanbul during the pandemic. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, daily workload and staffing capacity, as well as COVID-19-related protective strategies.
Results
A total of 44.0 % of participants reported working 6–9 h per day, while 50.0 % reported working 10 h or more during the pandemic. Dissatisfaction with daily working hours was reported by 80.1 % of respondents, and 70.5 % indicated insufficient staff capacity. Regarding daily patient load, 63.3 % of
CT, 56.6 % of MRI, and 44.6 % of X-ray radiographers reported managing 151–250 patients, while 36.7 % of CT and 20.5 % of X-ray radiographers reported seeing more than 250 patients daily. Overall, 63.3 % of radiographers stated they had knowledge in handling contaminated or hazardous materials, and 66.9 % reported experience in radiological imaging of COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion
The findings highlight the sustained high workload of radiographers during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with widespread dissatisfaction related to working hours and staff shortages. Enhancing training on COVID-19 protocols and implementing strategies to support staff well-being are essential to ensure the health, safety, and job satisfaction of radiographers working on the front lines.