| Summary: | Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. === The focus of this study is the professional communication practices of radiotherapists as clinical
practitioners and as teachers of student/novice radiotherapists. The study was undertaken at a higher
education institution and a radiation oncology department in South Africa and addressed the research
question; what are the communication practices of radiotherapists in their professional practice and as
higher education teachers. This work on professional communication was based on practice and
discourse theory as relating to a local context of professional practice and education. Professional
communication, seen in this sense, is a social practice which needs to be understood as operating
within educational, work and social discursive practices of radiation therapy.
A case study approach was chosen as the most appropriate research strategy for capturing the authentic
communication practices of radiotherapists in clinical and educational practice. The professional
communication practices of ten student and five qualified radiotherapists were investigated through
typical teaching and learning interactions in a work integrated learning curriculum. The learning
interactions were observed and video-taped in the classroom, tutorial, and demonstration room.
Communication interactions were observed and audio taped in the clinical workplace. The research
participants, using the video footage as part of their reflections, were interviewed about their
communication practices. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed. Analysis of the data was
by means of thematic analysis where the data was coded and categorised by means of pattern
matching.
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