Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2018
Keywords:
Audit and standards, RIS, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Professional issues, Action 13 - Stakeholder engagement and collaboration, Action 8 - Radiation protection training and learning material, Action 1 - Guidelines, implementation policies, and Clinical Decision Support (ESR iGuide), Action 12 - Cooperation with international radiation protection initiatives and other stakeholders including IAEA, WHO, ICRP, HERCA, European Commission, Action 6 - Education and training in medical radiation protection, Action 1 - Clinical decision support, clinical imaging guidelines, Decision analysis, Diagnostic procedure, Education and training
Authors:
J. Vassileva, B. Brkljacic, V. Sinitsyn
DOI:
10.1594/esi2018/ESI-0087
Conclusion and recommendations
Among the issues most commonly cited were the availability and accessibility of evidence-based and up-to-date referral guidelines in clinical practice to aid referrers and practitioners in the justification process.
The IAEA and ESR consider referral guidelines for medical imaging essential for improving appropriateness and justification of radiological procedures.
The meeting recommended the following next steps:
1.
National or local implementation of justification tools:
-
Adopting or adapting Imaging Referral Guidelines from a trusted source (professional societies,
regulatory competent authorities);
-
Support from regulators,
health ministries,
medical societies (radiological and clinical,
radiographic societies,
medical physicists).
-
Public awareness for expectations and safety.
2.
Education and training
-
Training material from professional societies and international agencies e.g.
IAEA,
WHO,
ESR,
etc.
-
Radiation protection training within university curricula,
workflow,
CPD
-
Regional/sub-regional/national training workshops organized by IAEA,
WHO,
ESR
3.
Feedback to National Radiation protection competent authorities and Ministries of Health,
provided through the IAEA and WHO
The need for flexibility for methods and strategies according to local practices,
healthcare technology and economy was identified.
Help is needed from radiological and clinical professional societies,
radiographers,
regulatory agencies,
Ministries and International agencies as well as organisation for public awareness.
The workshop demonstrated the value of bringing together regulators and professionals from a single region,
where there are clearly common issues and challenges.
The opportunity to share these,
and solutions and progress where available,
provided a practical element to the workshop that cannot be provided so easily when the participants are from one background or multiple regions.
The collaboration between the IAEA,
ESR and WHO in organizing the workshop was recognized as useful and recommended to continue at regional and sub-regional level,
further following the multi-stakeholder approach and involving also referring physicians,
in particular general practitioners,
in future events in order to maximise the impact.