When it comes to medical research, much of the spotlight often shines on large-scale projects from pharmaceutical companies. However, it's crucial also to recognise the pioneering work being done at an individual level.
With that said, we’re delighted to announce that Ferdouz Ramazan, Alliance Medical's North Tees and Hartlepool Unit Manager, has had her first publication accepted from her research:
“Communities of practice: An alternative approach to bridging the theory-practice gap in radiography?”
Ferdouz’s groundbreaking review proposes a new method for knowledge diffusion and practice, focusing on the concept of ‘communities of practice’. This concept explores groups of people who share a profession or interest and learn from each other through regular interaction. Ferdouz highlights that this theory, though well-known in different fields, hasn't yet been explored much in the practice of radiography as a method for bridging the theory-practice gap.
Ferdouz joined Alliance Medical three years ago as a graduate radiographer and has seen exceptional progression in her career since. Shortly after joining, she moved into a senior radiographer role, and today she is the Unit Manager at North Tees and Hartlepool, while also pursuing her PhD at the University of Sunderland’s Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Research Institute, which is supported by Alliance Medical.
The focus of her innovative research cleverly explores the application of the communities of practice concept within the field of radiography and uses social learning theory as a framework - insightfully adopted from business and education.
The significant gap between research findings and their implementation in clinical practice is identified as one of the critical challenges in healthcare including radiography. It often takes over a decade to translate research into practice. Ferdouz’s research aims to tackle this issue by using the communities of practice concept as an alternative approach to bridging this gap.
Her work has involved qualitative methods, interviewing radiographers and observing current practices. These insights have been instrumental in the development of a new theory specifically tailored to radiography while building on existing educational theories. Still in its early stages, this research (with a publication already accepted) has tremendous potential, with future quantitative data offering measurable insights into the effectiveness of this approach.
Of her research, Ferdouz said:
“Radiography is a rapidly evolving profession, partly due to being inextricably linked to both technological advances and role developments created by workforce challenges. To respond to the changes and challenges in radiography, communities of practice could promote evidence-based practice and CPD by creating a network in which individuals share their knowledge, best practices and experiences, and collectively generate new knowledge.’’
This research is significant as it offers a novel perspective on how healthcare providers, particularly radiographers, can continuously improve their practice through collaborative learning and reduce the lag in implementing new research.
Professor Yitka Graham, Director of Studies for Ferdouz’s PhD, says research into workforce development, particularly in the field of radiography, is very much needed. She said:
“Ferdouz is taking an innovative approach through exploring communities of practice, which has the potential to empower radiographers to become more research-active, foster more creative approaches and illuminate the valuable talent that exists in this workforce. Ferdouz has made great progress with her studies, and we are proud to be proud to be part of her journey.”
While continuous professional development (CPD) is mandated by the Health and Care Professions Council, Ferdouz’s research questions whether this is enough to bridge the theory-practice gap in radiography. Could a more community-based, peer-to-peer learning environment enhance CPD and promote evidence-based practice? The early indications are promising.
Communities of practice allow individuals with similar backgrounds to come together informally - whether through online platforms, podcasts, or conferences - to share knowledge and learn from one another.
Alliance Medical has proudly supported Ferdouz with her research, not only by sponsoring the PhD, but by fostering an environment that encourages learning and innovation. The team at Alliance Medical is extremely passionate about research, and is excited to see Ferdouz’s work evolve both in her PhD studies and within her role at Alliance Medical.
Ferdouz is also working in collaboration with and studying at the University of Sunderland. This partnership further strengthens the research, ensuring academic rigour alongside being practically grounded in the realities of radiography.
Looking ahead, Ferdouz’s next steps will involve further data collection and analysis, with the goal of designing methods that facilitate learning for radiographers. Conferences and informal peer-to-peer learning environments will be a key component of this initiative, providing opportunities for radiographers to share knowledge and experiences in real-time.
This exciting research promises to transform the way radiographers approach continuous learning and professional development, and with the support of Alliance Medical and the University of Sunderland, is poised to make a significant impact on the field.
Ferdouz’s research is not only an incredible personal achievement but a great example of success within our organisation, where talent and innovation are championed. As her research continues to develop, we look forward to sharing more updates and insights.
Read more about the project here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078817424001469
To read the full review, go to: https://bit.ly/3yVzhzl
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