Open AccessSonographers’ level of autonomy in communication in Australian obstetric settings: Does it affect their professional identity?
Author(s) -
Sam Thomas,
Kate O’Loughlin,
Jillian Clarke
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.529
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1743-1344
pISSN - 1742-271X
DOI - 10.1177/1742271x20928576
Subject(s) - sonographer , medicine , autonomy , identity (music) , medical education , affect (linguistics) , nursing , psychology , radiology , ultrasound , communication , physics , political science , acoustics , law
Unlike the United Kingdom, policies in Australia prevent sonographers from exercising autonomy in their level of communication with pregnant patients in the event of adverse findings. The organisational structure makes the sonographer dependent on the sonologist because sonographers do not have the authority to provide the official report. The emotional labour on sonographers is increased as they struggle to provide patient-centred care, given the limits put on their communication during the ultrasound examination. The aim of this study was to explore Australian sonographers' views on communicating adverse findings, including their level of autonomy in communicating with patients and how this influences their sense of professional identity.