title: Are reporting radiographers fulfilling the role of advanced practitioner?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced practice roles are emerging in all disciplines at a rapid pace and reporting radiographers are ideally placed to work at such level. Advanced practitioners should demonstrate expert practice and show progression into three other areas of higher level practice. Most existing literature has focussed on the image interpretation aspect of the role, however there is little evidence that plain film reporting radiographers are undertaking activities beyond image interpretation and fulfilling the role of advanced practitioner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Letters were posted to every acute NHS trust in the UK, inviting reporting radiographers to complete an online survey. Both quantitative and qualitative information was sought regarding demographics and roles supplementary to reporting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 205 responses were analysed; 83.3% of reporting radiographers describe themselves as advanced practitioner, however significantly less are showing progression into the four core functions of higher level practice. A total of 97.0% undertake expert practice, 54.7% have a leadership role, 19.8% provide expert lectures and 71.1% have roles encompassing service development or research, though most of these fall into the service development category. 34.5% felt that they were aware of the differences between extended and advanced practice though much less (9.3%) could correctly articulate the difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few individuals are aware of the difference between extended and advanced practice. Though the majority of plain film reporting radiographers identify themselves as advanced practitioners, significantly less evidence all four core functions of higher level practice. The number of individuals undertaking research and providing expert-level education is low.
authors.affiliation: Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Aberford Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 4DG, UK. Electronic address: robert.milner@midyorks.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.affiliation: Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Aberford Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 4DG, UK; Faculty of Health Studies - Horton A, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Snaith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000592:standards*; D002322:Career Mobility; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D024382:Professional Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000193:education*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Advanced practice; Extended practice; Radiographer; Radiology; Reporting