Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2019
Keywords:
Education and training, Radiation safety, CT, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Action 5 - Performance indicators for radiation protection management
Authors:
R. Paramalingam, A. Morrison, S. Demeter, J. Castelli, D. Koff
DOI:
10.26044/esi2019/ESI-0039
Background/introduction
In Canada,
computer tomography (CT) accounts for the majority amount of radiation received by patients from any imaging modality1,
and has increased in use by 75% over the last 10 years.2 Radiology exams,
such as CT,
can have dose-dependent adverse effects.
According to the linear no-threshold (LNT) dose response model,
post-radiation exposure cancer risk is directly proportional to dose.
Therefore,
keeping radiation doses as low as reasonably achievable (i.e.,
the ALARA principle) reduces risk.
3 However,
there is concern that workers outside the imaging departments,
using radiation equipment,
may not have received the necessary radiation protection training to ensure that both patients and staff are not subjected to unnecessary radiation risk.4
A recent radiation awareness study conducted in Canada investigated and compared the level of knowledge about radiation dose and the risks incurred from many imaging exams among radiology workers: radiology residents,
fellows,
staff radiologists,
and technologists.5 The results of the study found that knowledge of radiation dose and risk is poor among all radiology workers,
with more significant gaps in knowledge among technologists compared with residents,
fellows,
and staff radiologists.5 In addition,
the study found a significant underestimation of the link between radiation dose and cancer risk from common examinations.5
In response to this study,
Canada Safe Imaging (CSI) partnered with Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) in 2017 to perform a pan-Canadian survey to determine awareness and implementation of the Bonn Call for Action priorities within the radiation safety community.
The Bonn Call for Action,
introduced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO),
is defined by 10 priorities and related sub-priorities for strengthening radiation protection.
The objectives of this report is to determine the extent of awareness and implementation of the Bonn Call for Action priorities among Canadian health care professionals working in radiation safety,
and to identify other actions that could further impact radiation safety.
The information in this report was obtained through a survey of key informants.