Background/introduction
The use of radiological investigations is an accepted part of medical practice, justified in terms of clear clinical benefits to the patient, which should far outweigh the small radiation risks. However even small radiation doses are not entirely without risk. A small fraction of the genetic mutations and malignant diseases that occur in the population can be attributed to background radiation.
In the United Kingdom an estimated 100-250 deaths occur each year from cancers directly related to medical exposure to radiation.In March 2000, the UK...
Description of activity and work performed
Methodology: Standard questionnaires (Figure 1) werehanded out amongst all staff in a radiology department. The forms comprised of twelve questions and was divided into two parts. The first half examined the equivalent dose in“number of PA CXRs”forabdominal X-ray,lumbar spine X-ray, computer tomography (CT)kidney ureter bladder, CT abdomen and pelvis, CT chest, isotope bone scan,magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI),angiography and CT brain. Each question was followed by preopositions reflecting fourapproximate risksof radiation should a patient be exposed to a specefic imaging modality. The second part comprised questions regarding...
Conclusion and recommendations
The purpose of this study was to assess the koweledge of radiation exposure amongst the radiology staff and it appears that understandingregarding the radiation doses of common radiological tests was inadequate among radiographers and radiologists. Underestimation of radiation doses may put patients at risk of undergoing increasing radiological investigations and thus increasing exposure to radiation hazards.
Therefore, awareness of the radiation hazards of radiological examinations can be raised among medical professionals during undergraduate medical training or as part of continuous medical education programmes for speciality...
Personal/organisational information
A. C. Belhadj Mostefa; London/UK - Author at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust S. Elsobky; London/UK - Author at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust A. Santhirasekaram; London/UK - Author at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust M. Khalifa; London/UK - Author at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Consultant at Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Author Information
A. C. Belhadj Mostefa MD
Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London, UK
Personal address: 65, Blackstock roadN4 2JWLondon
United Kingdom
Phone: +447449911372
e-mail:...
References
1.Soye & Paterson. A survey of awareness of radiation dose among health professionals in Northern Ireland. BJR 2008; 81: 725-729.
2.The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. HMSO.
3.iRefer. Making the best use of clinical radiology 7th Edition RCR 2012
4.Knowledge of radiation exposure in common radiologicalinvestigations: a comparison between radiologists and non-radiologists
5.The Royal College of Radiologists iRefer referral guidelines: eighth edition 2017