On the edge of decision-making in trauma care: A focus group study on radiographers' experiences of interprofessional collaboration.

INTRODUCTION: The temporary trauma teams in trauma alerts consist of a diverse group of unique professionals requiring interprofessional collaboration and coordination to achieve efficient, high-quality care. The uncertain situation and complex care environment impose high demands on team dynamics such as individual attitudes and team behaviours. Within interprofessional teams, interaction and coordination reflect the collective success of collaboration and the achievement of goals. Interactions with radiographers have increased in trauma teams given computed tomography's prominent role in providing crucial knowledge for decision-making in trauma care. This study aimed to explore radiographers' experiences of interprofessional collaboration during trauma alerts. METHOD: The study was designed with focus group methodology, including 17 radiographers participating in five focus groups, analysed with an inductive focus group analysis. RESULTS: An overarching theme, "On the edge of decision-making", emerged along with three sub-themes: "Feeling included requires acknowledgement", "Exclusion precludes shared knowledge", and "Experience and mutual awareness facilitate team interaction". CONCLUSIONS: Interprofessional collaboration from the radiographer's perspective within trauma teams requires a sense of inclusion and the ability to interact with the team. Exclusion from vital decision-making obstructs radiographers' comprehension of situations and thereby the interdependence in interprofessional collaboration. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Common platforms are needed for knowledge sharing and team practices, including radiographers' areas of responsibility and relational coordination to foster interprofessional relationships. Through these means interdependence through awareness and shared knowledge can be facilitated on trauma teams.

Relation between dorsal and palmar hand skin temperatures during a cold stress test.

Hand skin temperature measurements have previously been performed on either dorsal or palmar sides and it is possible to find arguments for the advantage of both locations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use dynamic infrared (IR) imaging to examine the relationship between dorsal and palmar hand skin temperature. The palmar and dorsal hand skin temperature before and after a cold stress test was measured with IR thermography in 112 healthy participants. Calculation of surface average temperature was made from nine regions of interest on each hand's dorsal and palmar side. Temperature values were recorded at baseline, directly after immersion of hands in vinyl gloves for one minute in water at 20 ±0.5 °C (gloves removed), and after eight minutes rewarming. Results showed that: a) the skin temperatures on the dorsal and palmar sides of the hand are strongly correlated; b) the correlation is stronger on the fingers than on the carpometacarpal (CMC) area; c) the palmar side of the CMC area is warmer than the dorsal side, but this is reversed in the fingers so that the nail bed is warmer than the finger pad; and d) the temperature difference ∆T between the dorsal and palmar sides of the fingers is independent of the skin temperature, though ∆T on the CMC area of the hand is temperature dependent. Such differences can be important in detailed investigations of thermal phenomena in the hand. In conclusion, results showed a strong correlation between the dorsal and palmar temperatures. If both sides cannot be measured, the purpose of the investigation should determine which side of the hand should be measured.