Editors' Choice winner announced

A PhD student and retired radiographer and her fellow authors, has scooped a Radiography journal prize.

Navigating the maze: Qualitative research methodologies and their philosophical foundations, is the Editors' Choice for papers published in 2019.

Authored by Jill Bleiker of the Department of Medical Imaging at the University of Exeter Medical School, and colleagues Drs Sarah Morgan-Trimmer, Karen Knapp, and Susan Hopkins, the paper topped a shortlist of 12 chosen from Volume 25 of Radiography.

The winning paper was published in the Methodological Issues in Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Research special issue edited by Drs Andrew England and John Thompson.

"This excellent overview of qualitative research approaches has gained accolades from academic staff who are signposting students and doctoral students to the work," Professor Julie Nightingale, editor-in-chief of Radiography, said.

"The article explores the necessity for reporting the underpinning philosophical basis of a qualitative study in addition to the more customary descriptions of how data were collected and analysed.

"The authors outline how and why consistency between the philosophical position taken and the methods used within a study is an important aspect of research quality."

Five other papers from the 2019 shortlist were highly commended:

• Roe et al (Issue 3): Acceptability of a new practice development for radiographers focussed on reducing 'never events' related to nasogastric feeding tubes in adult patients
• Charlesworth et al: Therapeutic Radiographers' perceptions of the barriers and enablers to effective smoking cessation support
• Strøm et al: Interprofessional work in early detection of breast cancer: An integrative review
• Dorey et al: Radiation protection value to the operator from augmented reality smart glasses in interventional fluoroscopy procedures using phantoms
• Vassiliou et al: An evaluation of techniques used in superficial radiotherapy for non-melanoma skin cancer to replicate the planned treatment area: A prospective study

The Editors' Choice is selected from the previous year's five issues. The shortlisted papers must meet some or all the following criteria:

• Either original research or systematic/high quality narrative review
• Displays an international relevance on a current topic
• Benchmarks current knowledge or pushes the boundaries of radiography knowledge
• Large scale research (eg multi-centre/multi-author/multiple references) or have potential to be up-scaled
• Demonstrates rigorous methodology and/or critical analysis of own work and that of others

"Selecting the Editors' Choice paper is increasingly challenging because the quality, quantity and diversity of papers published in Radiography continues to rise," Julie commented.

"The selection is our opportunity as editors of the journal to highlight and celebrate the publishing success of our authors."