Objective: In rural Australia access to doctors is limited, access to respiratory physicians even more so and these are the traditional sources of lung function testing.The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of training and supporting existing rural primary healthcare providers in lung function testing as a screening and monitoring mechanism due to the shortage of healthcare professionals capable of providing such a service.Methodology: As pharmacists are readily accessible healthcare professionals, they were trained in spirometry measurement and supported with ongoing quality assurance by respiratory scientists. Spirometers were provided to the pharmacists. People purchasing respiratory medications or responding to advertising about the service were tested after giving informed consent. Spirometic assessments were assessed for accuracy and reproducibility. Participants’ spirometry results were reviewed and those with abnormal test results were referred to their doctor.Results: Pharmacists were able to competently develop the skills necessary for providing spirometry measurement as a screening and monitoring technique. The level of competence exceeded that reported in previously published studies. Pharmacists were able to successfully identify spirometry results within the normal range.Conclusions: Training and supporting accessible healthcare professionals to provide lung function testing increases access in areas of need and has implications for respiratory morbidity and mortality in such settings.

Background: Asthma has been recognised as a poorly managed disease state in Australia. Rural areas have been identified as being under‐serviced by health professionals. Pharmacists in rural areas are in a prime position to be involved in the provision of multidisciplinary asthma care.Aim: This study investigated the impact of spirometry screening on asthma management by pharmacists in rural areas.Method: A two‐group (intervention: n = 141, control: n = 46) multicentre study design was utilised. The control group was provided with a standard medication review while the intervention group received spirometry testing and a medication review. The study protocol required pharmacists to refer participants to a doctor if required, based on spirometry or medication review results. The researchers assessed asthma severity and adequacy of asthma medication.Results: Spirometry as an intervention attracted participants to the study pharmacies and provided an opportunity for pharmacists to screen and refer a group who may otherwise be overlooked. Medication review identified suboptimal therapy, potentially contraindicated drug combinations and adverse drug reactions.Conclusion: Spirometry adds benefit to the provision of pharmaceutical care for people with asthma. This may have additional significance in rural areas where access to other health services is limited.

Macroradiography is a technique which employs geometric factors to produce magnified radiographic images. To reduce the amount of geometric unsharpness special x-ray tubes with small focal spot sizes have been employed. This type of equipment is expensive and has limited the use of macroradiography. This paper describes a method that uses standard x-ray equipment to produce macroradiographs. The effective focal spot size of the tube varies across the primary beam being smallest at the anode end of the beam. By angling the x-ray tube toward the cathode an effective focal spot sizes of 0.1 mm2 in the longitudinal direction can be achieved from a standard x-ray tube with an effective focal spot size of 0.6 mm2. A 0.6 mm2 tube can only produce quality macroradiographs of up to 1.5X magnification. By employing this x-ray tube orienting technique magnifications of up to 4X can be achieved. The aim of this paper is to describe the technique for clinical application. Further investigation is taking place into the characteristics of the beam and dosimetry. (author abstract)

Macroradiography is a radiographic imaging technique used to increase the size of the image relative to that of the object. Macroradiographic images suffer degradation due mainly to geometric unsharpness (U(g)). U(g) results from the finite size of the focal spot of the X-ray tube. Specialized equipment with a small effective focal spot size (Eff FSS) is generally used to perform macroradiography. The specialized nature of the equipment means macroradiographic examinations are not commonly undertaken. Macroradiographic examinations can also be performed on conventional radiographic equipment because the Eff FSS varies in the X-ray beam along the cathode-anode axis. Calculations and measurements of FSSs at different positions along the cathode-anode direction of the X-ray beam have been made. A simple technique of angling the X-ray tube 10 degrees towards the cathode reduces the Eff FSS in one dimension while still maintaining a vertical central ray. Reduced beam coverage results from this technique and an increase in radiographic exposure is required to compensate for the anode heel effect. Macroradiographic images of line pair phantoms and a hand-wrist phantom, at various tube angles, have been obtained to compare image detail.

Radiography in Australia is professionally regulated by the Australian Institute of Radiography and in the United Kingdom by the College of Radiographers and the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Each of these bodies produces a code of conduct which regulates the professional practice of radiographers. The codes issued by the Australian Institute of Radiography and the College of Radiographers were compared and contrasted. It was found that the codes are remarkably similar. Both codes allow for extensive communication between the radiographer and the patient. However, an important difference in the codes was discovered with regard to the relationship between the radiographer and the referring clinician. The code of conduct from the College of Radiographers allows the radiographer much more scope for utilising their own professional judgement and experience in evaluating each clinician's request on its merits. (author abstract)

Background: Nuclear medicine scientists have to undertake a one year professional development year (PDY) before they can become fully accredited practitioners. Selection undertaken by employers for such posts are often undertaken using interviews and reports written about the prospective candidate by referees. It is important that both prospective employees and employers understand the attributes that are being sought. Aim: This study set out to investigate the attributes that students and prospective employers perceived to be important when selecting graduates for PDY positions in nuclear medicine technology. Method: A survey of first, second and third year nuclear medicine students was undertaken in one university to determine a list of attributes that students thought were important. Nuclear medicine students and prospective employers were surveyed to determine how they ranked the various attributes. Results: It was found that both students and prospective employers rank the attributes in a similar way. The results of the survey indicated that the most important attributes for a PDY technologist were good communication skills, good reports from clinical supervisors and a friendly disposition. Conclusion: Students who participated in this survey were aware of the attributes that they must develop and display to be successful in PDY interviews. (author abstract)

The U.S. system of educating radiologic technologists is changing to meet the demands of an evolving health care work force. As a result, the educational standards and role of tomorrow's radiologic technologist will be very different from those of today. Many of the changes being considered by radiologic science professionals in the United States already have occurred in the United Kingdom. Beginning this year, for example, all entry-level radiographers in the United Kingdom must be graduates of a baccalaureate degree program. This article describes how radiography programs in the United Kingdom made the transition to a baccalaureate degree standard. It also examines how the role and scope of practice of U.K. technologists changed following the increase in educational standards.