This paper presents the status of education and training on radiation protection of medical staff in the countries participating in the IAEA Technical cooperation project for Europe RER9147 "Enhancing Member States' Capabilities for Ensuring Radiation Protection of Individuals Undergoing Medical Exposure".
Under this project,
the IAEA organized three regional workshops in 2018: in April in Vienna on roles and responsibilities for radiation protection,
in June in Tbilisi on Safety Appropriate use of imaging in Radiology (in Russian language),
and in October 2018 in Coimbra,
Portugal,
on radiation protection education and training of health professionals in diagnostic and interventional radiology.
In the preparation for the workshops the participants have been asked to answer questionnaire and to prepare country presentations with specific questions.
The paper presents a summary and conclusions based on this information from the following countries: Armenia,
Azerbaijan,
Belarus,
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria,
Croatia,
Cyprus,
Estonia,
Georgia,
Greece,
Hungary,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Latvia,
Lithuania,
Macedonia,
Malta,
Moldova,
Montenegro,
Poland,
Portugal,
Romania,
Russian Federation,
Serbia,
Slovakia,
Slovenia,
Tajikistan,
Turkey,
Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The objective was to identify gaps in radiation protection education and training of radiologists,
radiographers,
medical physicists and other health professionals involved in imaging procedures,
and to advice on action needed to implement in Member States the international and European recommendations for radiation protection education and training.
The following part summarises the main issues identified in radiation protection training,
linked to the professional education and training of the main group of health professionals.
1.
Education and training of radiologists
Formal professional education of radiologists exists in all countries,
with radiation protection knowledge included,
but such training is not sufficiently integrated into the clinical training.
In most countries the radiation protection regulation provides for a separate training scheme by training provider licensed by the Regulatory body,
with individual certification and re-certification.
In a number of countries,
no system exists for assessment of knowledge,
skills and competence of radiologists in radiation protection.
2.
Education and training of radiation technologists (radiographers)
Huge variations exist between countries in the professional education of radiographers,
reflecting also their knowledge,
skill and competences in radiation protection - from no specialised education in some countries (just nurses with few months training or only on-the-job training),
to 4+2 years university program including clinical training (EQF level 7 or 8).
3.
Education and training of medical physicists
Medical physics profession doesn't exist in part of the countries,
or if exists,
medical physicists are not sufficiently involved in radiology.
Formal professional education of medical physicists exists in only half of the countries in the region.
Considering that one of the medical physicist' role is to provide advice on radiation protection of patients,
the lack of qualified medical physicists leads to the lack of sufficient actions on optimization of radiological procedures.
4. Education and training of specialists performing interventional procedures
In most countries,
radiation protection is not included in the professional education and clinical training of interventional specialists.
In a half of the countries there is a formal requirement these specialists to undergo a short course on radiation protection provided by organizations licensed by the regulatory body,
with re-certification.
However,
no gurantee exists that these courses provide the needed skills and competences related to the clinical practice.
5.
Education and training of dentists
In most countries,
radiation protection is not included in the professional education and clinical training of dentists.
In a half of the countries there is a formal requirement these specialists to undergo a short course on radiation protection provided by organizations licensed by the regulatory body,
with re-certification.
However,
there is no sufficient information whether these courses provide the needed skills and competence related to the dental practice.
6.
Education and training of referring physicians
This training is lacking in most countries,
and if exists,
it is limited to some basic radiation protection knowledge given at the undergraduate level at schools of medicine and dentistry.