This week we continue our 'My First Paper' Campaign, showcasing our researchers and their research - with Mudasser I Panchbhaya a Lecturer and Researcher in Diagnostic Radiography from IPH.
Your name and your area of research
My name is Mudasser I Panchbhaya and I am a Lecturer and Researcher in Diagnostic Radiography at the University of Liverpool.
My main areas of research have been in neonatal and paediatric radiography. However, I have been involved in and been leading many other research projects in different areas
What was the title of your first paper and who was it submitted to?
'Gender diversity in Therapeutic Radiography: a mixed methods exploration of the gender influences impacting on male students' career choices' and it was submitted to the Radiography journal.
How would you explain what this paper was about to your grandparents?
A significant gender imbalance exists in therapeutic radiography, with male radiographers contributing to less than one fifth of the UK registered workforce. This research aimed to explore male student recruitment experiences to identify gender-sensitive strategies to employ within future recruitment drives.
An exploratory mixed methods design commenced with therapeutic radiography student focus groups, analysed via descriptive thematic analysis. The focus group themes informed an online questionnaire survey targeting enrolled male therapeutic radiography students in the UK. Both phases explored students' experiences of their career choice and the impact, if any, their gender had on this selection.
What was the most significant thing for you about that paper?
Targeting gender imbalances is always controversial but doing nothing will maintain the status quo and perpetuate an unrepresentative workforce. Earlier awareness-raising of therapeutic radiography is essential, with promotional imagery suitable for different audiences and focusing equally on care and technology. Recruitment language should embrace ‘leadership’ attributes as well as ‘caring’ attributes. Supported by male role models, outreach events should emphasise the profession in terms of a sustainable, fulfilling and rewarding career.
The findings have provided detailed recommendations on which to focus a specific recruitment and marketing strategy to encourage male applicants to consider a career in therapeutic radiography.
What advice would you give to others about submitting their first paper?
The advice I would give for someone submitting their first paper would be to do patient. This particular project took almost 3 years from first discussing the project to publication. It can take time to see the end result but it is incredibly worth it. Be resilient and stay determined.