An Assessment of the Adequacy of Clinical Communication between Clinicians and Radiographers on the Quality of Diagnostic Ultrasound Reports: A Case of the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Clear clinical communication between clinicians and radiographers in confirming of clinical information remains key in the provision of quality healthcare. As per procedure, clinicians make a clinical diagnosis and thereafter, request the radiographers to carry out sonographic examinations and produce Diagnostic Ultrasound Reports (DURs) based on the clinician‟s request. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the adequacy of clinical communication between clinicians and radiographers on the quality of DURs at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. A total of 40 Clinicians were conveniently recruited into the study while 12 radiographers were purposefully sampled. Two types of special semi-structured, self-administered questionnaires were administered. Each type was to a specific professional discipline, i.e. clinicians or radiographers. Data analysis was done using Social Statistical Packages for Social Scientist Version 22. Results: The study revealed that it was a common practice for the radiographers to receive requests from the clinicians demanding for repeat of the DURs. Clinical meetings between clinicians and radiographers were irregularly held. Less than a quarter of the clinicians lacked specialized training in Diagnostic Ultrasound. The study further revealed that practitioners‟ gender had no effect on the adequacy of communication between clinicians and radiographers while qualifications and work experience had effect. Conclusion: The study showed that communication between clinicians and radiographers at the UTH was inadequate. The major causes to this inadequacy included the use of unstandardized radiological request forms and lack of regular clinical meetings.