Abstract
Purpose
Until now a large number of scientific studies have focused on technological aspects of radiography. This study is a step in another direction which examines the relationship between man and technology within radiography instead of considering man and technology as separate entities.
Methods
The study is designed as an observational study with a narrative approach.
The participant observations took place in a Danish radiological department and involved 20 examinations followed up by three semi-structured interviews.
Conclusions
Through emergent narratives radiographers construct a practice in which the relationship between man and technology is marked by a struggle of domination of one over the other. The struggle expresses itself through two competing plots:
A diagnostic plot with a prevailing, but not merely chronological structure mostly composed of events tied to pathology and symptoms. The plot is organized in a relatively concrete and fairly limited space of possibilities, i.e. the number of different diagnoses that can be made.
In opposition to the diagnostic plot stands the lifestory as a masterplot. In the lifestory the examination is plotted as a significant experience in the patient’s life, which transforms it into an event that stretches toward a future yet unknown as healthy, ill or anything in between.
Radiographers play a role on both sides of the battlefield. Most often they try to contribute to the domination of man over technology through active engagement of their narrative alertness. Errors and failure to keep the time schedule can, however, lead the radiographers to a change of perspective that makes them displace man from the scene of radiography by playing on the premises of technology.
Until now a large number of scientific studies have focused on technological aspects of radiography. This study is a step in another direction which examines the relationship between man and technology within radiography instead of considering man and technology as separate entities.
Methods
The study is designed as an observational study with a narrative approach.
The participant observations took place in a Danish radiological department and involved 20 examinations followed up by three semi-structured interviews.
Conclusions
Through emergent narratives radiographers construct a practice in which the relationship between man and technology is marked by a struggle of domination of one over the other. The struggle expresses itself through two competing plots:
A diagnostic plot with a prevailing, but not merely chronological structure mostly composed of events tied to pathology and symptoms. The plot is organized in a relatively concrete and fairly limited space of possibilities, i.e. the number of different diagnoses that can be made.
In opposition to the diagnostic plot stands the lifestory as a masterplot. In the lifestory the examination is plotted as a significant experience in the patient’s life, which transforms it into an event that stretches toward a future yet unknown as healthy, ill or anything in between.
Radiographers play a role on both sides of the battlefield. Most often they try to contribute to the domination of man over technology through active engagement of their narrative alertness. Errors and failure to keep the time schedule can, however, lead the radiographers to a change of perspective that makes them displace man from the scene of radiography by playing on the premises of technology.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 2007 |
| Antal sider | 1 |
| Status | Udgivet - 2007 |
| Begivenhed | Nordic Congress for Radiographers - Malmö, Sverige Varighed: 4 maj 2007 → 6 maj 2007 |
Konference
| Konference | Nordic Congress for Radiographers |
|---|---|
| Land/Område | Sverige |
| By | Malmö |
| Periode | 04/05/07 → 06/05/07 |
Emneord
- narrativ
- radiografi
- teknologi
- etik