Considering the changes in education of radiographers, the socio-demographic characteristics of the staff, and the increasing need for radiographers' services, the supply of radiographers during the next two decades will be insufficient. To meet the forecasted demand for radiographers in the perspective scenario, the number of students choosing this specialty from 2013 on should increase by up to 30%.

BackgroundAssessing radiographers’ clinical competence is of major importance in all medical imaging departments, and is a fundamental prerequisite for guaranteeing professional standards in both nursing care and radiography. Despite the fact that self-assessment has been reported to be the most common form of competence evaluation only several studies defining the radiographers’ self-assessment of clinical competencies were identified. The aim of the study was to evaluate radiographers’ professional competence from the perspectives of radiographers and radiologists by applying the Radiographers’ Competence Scale (RCS).MethodsThe study was conducted in university hospitals of Lithuania. We used the original instrument designed by Swedish researchers – the Radiographers’ Competence Scale (RCS) consisting of two domains: A “Nurse-initiated care” and B “Technical and radiographic processes”. The study involved in all 397 respondents; radiographers (250) and radiologists (147) working in departments of diagnostic radiology. Each competence was evaluated twice – the level on a 10-point scale, and the frequency of practical application on a 6-point scale.ResultsThe overall level of the radiographers’ competence and the frequency of its use in practice were evaluated high or very high by both respondent groups. The radiographers attributed the highest evaluations to such competences as “Encouraging and supporting the patient” and “Collaborating with other radiographers”, while the lowest evaluations were attributed to “Guiding the patient’s relatives” and “Empowering the patient by involving him/her in the examination and treatment” competences. The radiologists attributed the highest evaluations to such competences as “Collaborating with radiologists” and “Independent carrying out of the radiologist’s prescriptions”, while the lowest evaluations – to the same competences as the radiographers did. Irrespectively of the work experience and age, the radiographers gave significantly higher ratings to all competences that the radiologists did (p < 0.001).ConclusionsBoth groups of the respondents attributed high or very high evaluations to the competences in both the “Nurse-initiated care” and the “Technical and radiographic processes” domains.

Background: Attitudes towards interprofessional education are key factors that shape students’ behaviour during interprofessional practice. An interprofessional approach to training and practice is “unique”, important, and challenging. Interprofessional education allows for a deeper understanding and analysis of problems from perspectives different to those of “us”. The aim of the study was to assess medical students’ attitudes toward the nurse’s role during their interprofessional clinical practice. Methods: This study used a descriptive, correlational design. Results: Lithuanian medical students were statistically significantly more likely to think that the role of a nurse was clear and transparent to other professionals and that nurses exuded a high degree of professionalism, sought a high degree of involvement with the patient, and built deep relationships with the patients. Foreign medical students were statistically significantly more likely to believe that nurses worked more effectively alone than in a team and that they worked with the patients within their own professional field of knowledge rather than referring patients to other professionals. Conclusions: After 6 months of interprofessional training with nurses in the hospital, medical students gain a more clear professional picture of the role of the nurse.

Background and objectives: Data on long-term cardiometabolic consequences in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are controversial. The aim of our study was to evaluate body mass index (BMI), body composition, blood pressure (BP) and insulin sensitivity in adolescents and young adults with CAH in comparison with healthy controls. Methods. Thirty-two patients with classical CAH (13 males; mean of age 26.0 ± 7.1, years (14.0–37.3) were compared to 32 healthy sex and age-matched controls (13 males; mean of age 28.7 ± 4.6 years (14.1–37.2), p = 0.13). Body composition was evaluated in all subjects with DXA (Hologic Inc., Bedford, MA, USA). Elevated BP was defined as BP > 95th percentile in adolescents, and >140/90 mmHg in adults. Comparisons between the two groups were adjusted for age, gender, pubertal stage and height. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed, and fasting insulin levels were evaluated. Insulin sensitivity was determined using a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Results. The median BMI was significantly higher in subjects with CAH (1.63 (0.3–2.4) SDS and 0.41 (−0.63–1.19) SDS, respectively, p < 0.001). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in grams was significantly higher in CAH females versus control females (467 (231–561) vs. 226 (164–295), p = 0.002). Elevated BP was identified in 34% of CAH patients (nine SW and two SV) and 12.5% (n = 4) of controls (p = 0.038). Impaired fasting glycemia was detected in one SW CAH patient and impaired glucose tolerance in three SV CAH patients; normal glucose tolerance was found in all controls. A strong positive correlation was found between median cumulative hydrocortisone (HC) dose equivalents and LDL-cholesterol and a negative association with lean body mass (r = −0.79, p = 0.036) in females with CAH. BMI, VAT, BP and HOMA-IR were not related to median cumulative HC dose equivalents. Conclusions. CAH patients had higher BMI, VAT and frequency of elevated BP compared to controls. Doses of glucocorticoids were related directly to LDL-cholesterol and inversely to lean body mass in CAH females, but not associated with body composition, insulin sensitivity and BP in the whole cohort of CAH patients.

Over the last two decades, a number of studies have been conducted on the planning of human resources in various professional qualifications of the healthcare sector in various parts of the world. The studies evaluated the supply and demand (as well as factors affecting them) of human resources in healthcare, yet no studies have been conducted in Lithuania on the planning of the number of radiographers as human resources in the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to estimate the prospective number of students accepted for studies in radiography up to 2030 in order to satisfy the need for these specialists in the labor market. Methods. The prognostication of the number of students accep- ted for studies in radiography is part of a more extensive study “The Prognosis of the Supply and Demand for Radiographers in Lithuania for 2012 – 2030”, where the supply and demand for those specialists were prognosticated according to two scenarios – the mean and the prospective ones [20]. In this study, we evaluated and compared the most likely prognoses of the supply and demand for radiographers according to the prospective scenario, and prognosti- cated the required number of entrants until the year 2030 to satisfy the demand for these specialists in the labor market. Results. The evaluation of the prospective scenario of the supply and demand for radiographers until the year 2030 showed a gap between the supply and demand for these specialists, which is likely to increase from 2016-2017 on. In 2020, the shortage was predicted to be 0.13 position per 10,000 population, and in 2030 – 0.37 position per 10,000 population. To avoid the predicted shortage of these specialists and to meet the need for them in the prospective scenario, the number of students accepted for studies of radiography should be increased by nearly one-fourth, compared to the current numbers. Conclusions. To meet the prognosticated demand for radio- graphy specialists according to the prospective scenario (which is most likely), the yearly number of entrants should be increased by up to 30% during the period of 2013-2026