Statistics
2011 Health Manpower Survey
Summary of the Characteristics of Radiographers Enumerated
I. Radiographers Covered
1.1 Diagnostic Radiographers
1.1.1 The radiographers covered in the 2011 HMS includes both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers. Diagnostic radiographers refer to those radiographers (Category D) registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date - 31.3.2011.
1.1.2 The number of diagnostic radiographers covered was 1 473.
1.1.3 Of the 1 473 diagnostic radiographers covered, 707 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 48.0%. Among the respondents, 670 were economically active*† (active) in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011 and 37 reported to be economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local diagnostic radiography profession (Chart A) .
* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.
† “Economically active” diagnostic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers. The “employed” diagnostic radiographers referred to those diagnostic radiographers practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers referred to those diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.
‡ “Economically inactive” diagnostic radiographers comprised the diagnostic radiographers who were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.
1.1.4 Of the 670 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 665 were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession, two were seeking jobs, two were expecting to return to original jobs in the local diagnostic radiography profession and one was having temporary sickness during the 30 days before the survey period. The survey results presented in paragraph 1.1.6 below were based on the 665 responding diagnostic radiographers who were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011. As some information was missing from certain questionnaires, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.
1.1.5 Of the 37 inactive diagnostic radiographers, six reported practising overseas and 31 reported not seeking job in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey (Chart A) . A mong the 31 inactive diagnostic radiographers who reported not seeking job, the main reasons reported for not seeking jobs included: 17 (54.8%) were working in other professions, five (16.1%) were engaged in household duties and four (12.9%) were retired, et c .
Chart A : Activity Status of Diagnostic Radiographers Covered
|
Note:
|
* | Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographer who (a) was not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. |
| † | Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were expected to return to original jobs in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. | |
| ‡ | Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who reported undertaking study, wanted to take rest / no motive to work / no financial need, etc. | |
| Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. |
1.1.6 Eight active diagnostic radiographers did not indicate their sex. Of the remaining 657 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated who were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession, 320 (48.7%) were male and 337 (51.3%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 95. Apart from 11 active diagnostic radiographers did not indicate the age, the median age of the remaining 654 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 42.0 years. Both the median age of the active male and female diagnostic radiographers enumerated were 42.0 years.
1.1.7 The responding active diagnostic radiographers were requested to indicate the characteristics of their main jobs*. Distribution of the main job by sector showed that about half (51.7%) of the active diagnostic radiographers were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by those working in the private sector (42.1%) and the Government, academic and subvented sectors (5.6%). Among the 280 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated who were working in the private sector, the largest proportion (57.5%) were working in medical and X-ray laboratory, followed by those working in private hospitals (34.6%) and miscellaneous health services centre (7.9%).
1.1.8 The median age of the active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 46.0 years for those working in the private sector, followed by 41.0 years for those working in the Hospital Authority and 39.5 years for those working in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.
1.1.9 Of the 665 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 91.3% spent most of their working time on diagnostic stream, followed by 6.3% on administration / management, 0.5% on teaching and 0.2% on research.
1.1.10 The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 665 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 44.0 hours. Among them, 124 (18.6%) were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median of 20.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week.
1.1.11 Of the 665 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 41.1% held Bachelor’s Degree, 33.4% held Professional Diploma, 19.1% held Certificate / Higher Certificate and 6.0% held Diploma as their basic qualifications.
* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the diagnostic radiographers had spent most of their working time.
1.1.12 Of the 665 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 397 (59.7%) received / were receiving additional training and 268 (40.3%) did not receive any additional training. Of the 397 active diagnostic radiographers with additional training, 34 (8.6%) had not yet completed the additional training, 117 (29.5%) held Master’s Degree, 113 (28.5%) held Bachelor’s Degree and 93 (23.4%) held Certificate / Post-experience Certificate / Post-registration Certificate / Higher Certificate as the highest qualification.
1.1.13 Of the 397 diagnostic radiographers enumerated who received / were receiving additional training, 32.3% were trained in diagnostic radiography, 18.2% in ultrasonography / medical ultrasonography, 13.8% in healthcare (medical imaging and radiation technology), 11.7% in magnetic resonance imaging, 8.5% in healthcare management / health services management, 6.4% in nuclear medicine / nuclear medicine technology and 4.5% in computer radiography.
1.1.14 Of the 397 diagnostic radiographers enumerated who received / were receiving additional training, 250 (63.0%) were trained in one field of additional training. Among them, 38.8% were trained in diagnostic radiography, 23.6% in ultrasonography / medical ultrasonography, 11.2% in healthcare (medical imaging and radiation technology), 9.2% in magnetic resonance imaging, 5.2% in computer radiography, 4.8% in healthcare management / health services management and 4.0% in nuclear medicine / nuclear medicine technology.
1.1.15 Regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, 389 (58.5%) of the active diagnostic radiographers revealed that they had participated in CPD activities in 2011, 253 (38.0%) did not participate in any CPD activities and 23 (3.5%) did not reveal whether they had participated in CPD activities or not. Among the 389 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated who had participated in CPD activities, the distribution of CPD credits attained in the past 12 months was: 1 to 10 credits (49.1%), 11 to 20 credits (35.0%), 21 to 30 credits (8.0%), 31 to 40 credits (3.1%) and more than 40 credits (4.9%).
1.2 Therapeutic Radiographers
1.2.1 Therapeutic radiographers refer to those radiographers (Category T) registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date - 31.3.2011.
1.2.2 The number of therapeutic radiographers covered was 267 therapeutic radiographers.
1.2.3 Of the 267 therapeutic radiographers covered, 119 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 44.6%. Among the respondents, 104 were economically active*† (active) in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011 and 15 reported to be economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local therapeutic radiography professio n (Chart B) .
1.2.4 Of the 104 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 102 were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession and two were seeking jobs in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. The survey results presented in paragraph 1.2.6 below were based on the 102 responding therapeutic radiographers practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011. As some information was missing from certain questionnaires, percentages presented below may not add up to 100% .
* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active / inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.
† “Economically active” therapeutic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers. “Employed” therapeutic radiographers referred to those therapeutic radiographers practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers referred to those therapeutic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.
‡ “Economically inactive” therapeutic radiographers comprised the therapeutic radiographers who were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were“economically active” but “unemployed”.
1.2.5 Of the 15 inactive therapeutic radiographers, seven reported practising overseas and eight reported not seeking job in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey (Chart B) .
1.2.6 Of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated who were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession, 57 (55.9%) were male and 45 (44.1%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 127. Apart from four therapeutic radiographers who did not indicate the age, the median age of the remaining 98 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 35.0 years. The median age of the active female therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 31.0 years and that of their male counterparts was 38.0 years.
Chart B : Activity Status of Therapeutic Radiographers Covered
| Note: | * | Figure refers to the number of responding therapeutic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. |
| † | Figure refers to the number of responding therapeutic radiographers who reported working in other professions, engaged in household duties, etc. |
1.2.7 The responding active therapeutic radiographers were requested to indicate the characteristics of their main jobs*. Distribution of the main job by sector showed that the largest proportion (69.6%) were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by the academic and private sectors (29.4%).
1.2.8 The median age of the active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 38.0 years for those working in the Hospital Authority, followed by 33.0 years for those working in the academic and private sector s .
1.2.9 Of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 90.2% spent most of their working time on therapeutic stream, followed by 6.9% on administration / management and 2.9% on teaching.
1.2.10 The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 40.0 hours. Among them, all of them were not required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty).
1.2.11 Of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 78.4% held Bachelor’s Degree, 14.7% held Diploma and 6.9% held Professional Diploma as their basic qualifications.
* Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the therapeutic radiographers had spent most of their working time.
1.2.12 Of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 63 (61.8%) received / were receiving additional training and 39 (38.2%) did not receive any additional training. Of the 63 active therapeutic radiographers with additional training, 46 (73.0%) held Master’s Degree and eight (12.7%) held Bachelor’s Degree as the highest qualification.
1.2.13 Of the 63 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated who received / were receiving additional training, 34.3% were trained in healthcare (medical imaging & radiation technology), 28.6% in healthcare management / health services management and 8.6% in diagnostic radiography.
1.2.14 Of the 63 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated who received / were receiving additional training, 50 (79.4%) were trained in one field of additional training. Among them, 44.0% were trained in healthcare (medical imaging & radiation technology), 32.0% in healthcare management / health services management and 12.0% in diagnostic radiography.
1.2.15 Regarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, 72 (70.6%) of the active therapeutic radiographers revealed that they had participated in CPD activities in 2011, 27 (26.5%) did not participate in any CPD activities and three (2.9%) did not reveal whether they had participated in CPD activities or not. Among the 72 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated who had participated in CPD, the distribution of CPD credits attained in the past 12 months was: 1 to 10 credits (25.0%), 11 to 20 credits (47.2%), 21 to 30 credits (13.9%), 31 to 40 credits (4.2%) and more than 40 credits (9.7%).
II. Trend Analysis
Comparison of findings of the 2011 HMS with those surveys before 2004 should be cautious as the survey methodology and reference date had been changed. With the enactment of the Radiographers (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulation (Chapter 359H), registration of the profession of radiographers commenced on 1 July 1995 while disciplinary control of the profession was effective on 1 November 1996, it is mandatory for a person practising diagnostic radiography / therapeutic radiography in Hong Kong to hold a valid practising certificate.
2.1 Diagnostic Radiographers
2.1.1 Between 1992 and 2011, the number of diagnostic radiographers increased from 626 to 1 473 (Chart C) .
Chart C: Number of Diagnostic Radiographers Covered by Year (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,2008 and 2011)
| Note: | Figures of 1992 and 1996 refer to the number of diagnostic radiographers reported by the responding institutions as at the 1st of July of the respective years. Figure of 2000 refers to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1st of July 2000, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2011 refer to that as at the 31st of March of the respective years. |
2.1.2 The sex ratio (males per 100 females) of active diagnostic radiographers enumerated decreased from 187 in 1982 to 95 in 2011 (Table A) .
2.1.3 The mean age of the active diagnostic radiographers enumerated exhibited an increasing trend from 33.0 years in 1982 to 42.7 years in 2011 (Table A) .
2.1.4 From 1982 to 1990, the Government and academic* sectors were the largest employer of active diagnostic radiographers enumerated (68.6% to 98.7%). The Hospital Authority has been the largest employer since its setup in 1991, while the proportion of active diagnostic radiographers employed in Government and academic* sectors decreased to 5.6% in 2011. The proportion of active diagnostic radiographers working in the private sector increased from 2.3% in 1982 to 42.1% in 2011 (Table A) .
* Subvented sector was included in the 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 HMS. Military was also included in 1987 HMS.
Table A : Selected Characteristics of Active Diagnostic Radiographers Enumerated (1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005 , 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011)
|
Characteristics |
Year | ||||||||||||
|
1982 |
1984 |
1987 |
1990 |
1992 |
1996 |
2000 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2011 |
|
|
A. Diagnostic Radiographers* Covered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
626 |
770 |
1 208 |
1 316 |
1 316 |
1 343 |
1 366 |
1 389 |
1 473 |
|
B. Active Diagnostic Radiographers Enumerated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number Enumerated |
175 |
234 |
487 |
555 |
422 |
657 |
856 |
668 |
725 |
737 |
568 |
528 |
665 |
|
Sex |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male |
114 |
153 |
306 |
329 |
244 |
343 |
432 |
331 |
347 |
353 |
283 |
247 |
320 |
|
Female |
61 |
81 |
181 |
226 |
178 |
314 |
424 |
337 |
376 |
382 |
285 |
281 |
337 |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
8 |
|
Sex Ratio (males per 100 females) |
187 |
189 |
169 |
146 |
137 |
109 |
102 |
98 |
92 |
92 |
99 |
88 |
95 |
|
Mean Age |
33.0 |
32.5 |
33.2 |
33.6 |
34.0 |
34.2 |
36.5 |
38.7 |
37.8 |
39.1 |
40.6 |
39.3 |
42.7 |
|
Median Age |
N. A . |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N. A . |
N . A. |
35 .0 |
38.0 |
37. 0 |
38. 0 |
39 . 0 |
39 . 0 |
42 . 0 |
|
Sector of Work † |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hospital Authority |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
259 |
427 |
483 |
354 |
381 |
372 |
270 |
283 |
344 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(61.4%) |
(65.0%) |
(56.4%) |
(53.0%) |
(52.6%) |
(50.5%) |
(47.5%) |
(53.6 % ) |
(51.7%) |
|
Private |
4 |
3 |
136 |
174 |
152 |
211 |
322 |
267 |
299 |
321 |
268 |
215 |
280 |
|
|
(2.3%) |
(1.3%) |
(27.9%) |
(31.4%) |
(36.0%) |
(32.1%) |
(37.6%) |
(40.0%) |
(41.2%) |
(43.6%) |
(47.2%) |
(40.7%) |
(42.1 % ) |
|
Government & |
171 |
231 |
351 |
381 |
11 |
19 |
51 |
47 |
40 |
42 |
30 |
29 |
37 |
|
Academic ‡ |
(97.7%) |
(98.7%) |
(72.1%) |
(68.6%) |
(2.6%) |
(2.9%) |
(6.0%) |
(7.0%) |
(5.5%) |
(5.7%) |
(5.3%) |
(5.5%) |
(5.6%) |
|
Unknown |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
2 |
- |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.7%) |
(0.3%) |
|
(0.2%) |
(0.6%) |
| Notes : |
* Figures of 1992 and 1996 refer to the number of diagnostic radiographers reported by the responding institutions as at the 1st of July of the respective years. Figure of 2000 refers to the number of diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1st of July 2000, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2011 refer to that as at the 31st of March of the respective years.
† In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011, the sector refers to the sector of main job. ‡ Subvented sector was included in the 1982,1984, 1987, 1990, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011 HMS and military was included in the 1987 HMS. There may be slight discrepancy between the sum of individual items and the total due to rounding. N.A. Not applicable ‘-’ Not available |
2.2 Therapeutic Radiographers
2.2.1 Between 1996 and 2011, the number of therapeutic radiographers increased from 110 to 267 (Chart D) .
Chart D: Number of Therapeutic Radiographers Covered by Year (1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011)
| Note: | Figure of 1996 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers reported by the responding institutions as at the 1st of July 1996. Figure of 2000 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1st of July 2000, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2011 refer to that as at the 31st of March of the respective years. |
2.2.2 The sex ratio (males per 100 females) of active therapeutic radiographers enumerated decreased from 280 in 1982 in to 127 in 2011 (Table B) .
2.2.3 The mean age of the active therapeutic radiographers enumerated had been fluctuating in the range of 31.8 years and 36.0 years between 1987 and 2011 (Table B) .
2.2.4 From 1982 to 1990, all active therapeutic radiographers enumerated working in the Government, except that a few of them (5.3%) working in the academic and private sectors in 1990. Since the setup of Hospital Authority in 1991, it has been the largest employer, but the proportion of the active therapeutic radiographers enumerated decreased from 91.7% in 1992 to 69.6% in 2011. On the other hand, the proportion of therapeutic radiographers working in the academic and private sectors increased from 5.3% in 1990 to 29.4% in 2011 (Table B) .
Table B : Selected Characteristics of Active Therapeutic Radiographers Enumerated (1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011)
|
Characteristics |
Year |
||||||||||||
|
1982 |
1984 |
1987 |
1990 |
1992 |
1996 |
2000 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
20 11 |
|
|
A. Therapeutic Radiographers Covered* |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
110 |
179 |
203 |
210 |
212 |
219 |
219 |
267 |
|
A. Active Therapeutic Radiographers Enumerated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number Enumerated |
38 |
58 |
73 |
76 |
60 |
88 |
120 |
99 |
123 |
122 |
100 |
98 |
102 |
|
Sex |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male |
28 |
39 |
46 |
49 |
33 |
60 |
71 |
54 |
66 |
66 |
53 |
50 |
57 |
|
Female |
10 |
19 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
28 |
49 |
45 |
57 |
55 |
47 |
48 |
45 |
|
Sex Ratio (males per 100 females) |
280 |
205 |
170 |
181 |
122 |
214 |
145 |
120 |
116 |
120 |
113 |
104 |
127 |
|
Mean Age |
34.8 |
33.8 |
31.8 |
34.5 |
33.6 |
32.9 |
33.3 |
35.6 |
33.7 |
35.1 |
35.6 |
36. 3 |
36. 0 |
|
Median Age |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
3 2.0 |
3 3.0 |
3 2.0 |
33.0 |
34.0 |
35.0 |
35.0 |
|
Sector of Work† |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Government |
38 |
58 |
73 |
72 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
|
|
(100.0%) |
(100.0%) |
(100.0%) |
(94.7%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hospital Authority |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
55 |
79 |
107 |
77 |
100 |
99 |
74 |
75 |
7 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(91.7%) |
(89.8%) |
(89.2%) |
(77.8%) |
(81.3%) |
(81.1%) |
(74.0%) |
(76.5%) |
(69.6%) |
|
Academic & Private |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
4 |
5 |
9 |
13 |
21 |
23 |
22 |
26 |
23 |
30 |
|
|
|
|
|
(5.3%) |
(8.3%) |
(10.2%) |
(10.8%) |
(21.2%) |
(18.7%) |
(18.0%) |
(26.0%) |
(23.5%) |
(29.4%) |
|
Unknown |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
N.A. |
1 |
N.A. |
1 |
N.A. |
N.A. |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1.0%) |
|
(0.8%) |
|
|
(1.0%) |
| Notes : |
* Figure of 1996 refer to the number of therapeutic radiographers reported by the responding institutions as at the1st of July of 1996. Figure of 2000 refers to the number of therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong as at the 1st of July 2000, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2011 refer to that as at the 31st of March of the respective years.
† In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011, the sector refers to the sector of main job. There may be slight discrepancy between the sum of individual items and the total due to rounding. N.A. Not applicable ‘-’ Not available |
Department of Health
The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
30 March 2012