THE ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) concept has been a core principle of radiation safety practice without compromising the diagnostic quality of an exposure. This is ensured by ensuring that practitioners are appropriately trained, that the indication is justified, and the exposure is optimised for the study. These optimisation factors include collimation, exposure factors and historically patient contact shielding (1). Patient contact shields are lead lined rubber shields that are placed over radiosensitive organs to minimise the dose in exposures involving ionising radiation. They...

A 25-item questionnaire was created which investigated the training, use and complications of patient contact shields. This was disseminated by means of online questionnaire to radiology consultants and trainee radiologists practicing in the Republic of Ireland across multiple centres. Data involving specific modalities was restricted to practice within the last 12 months. The collected data were exported and analysed statistically using Microsoft Excel. The groups were subdivided and analysed to look for common themes.

A total of 36 responses were collected from multiple centres throughout the Republic of Ireland of which 24 (66%) were from trainee radiologists. With respect to training there was disparity between the consultant and trainee perspectives of patient contact shielding being covered as part of the national training curriculum. While all consultants felt it had been covered only 54% of trainee radiologists felt this was the case. This is likely due to the emerging evidence from the above studies which has led to heterogeneity of...

Good radiation protection practice requires the continuous appraisal of new evidence and putting best evidence into practice. While patient contact shields are ingrained as a core part of dose optimisation for some cohorts; new evidence has called this practice into question. It can be seen from this pilot study that there is heterogeneity in attitudes towards patient contact shields amongst radiology trainees and consultants in the Republic of Ireland. This study highlights the need for European or National guidance on their continued use in practice...

1. Peter Hiles BC, Elizabeth Benson, BIR, Helen Hughes, BIR, Rob Loader, IPEM, Dan Shaw, IPEM, Sue Edyvean, PHE, Yvonne Sullivan, PHE, Guy Hickson, RCR, Phil Cosson, SCoR, Lynda Johnson, SCoR, David Dommett, SRP Guidance on using shielding on patients for diagnostic radiology applications. British Institue of Radiology; 2020. 2. McKenney S, Gingold E, Zaidi H. Gonadal shielding should be discontinued for most diagnostic imaging exams. Medical Physics. 2019;46(3):1111-4. 3. ICRP. The 2007 Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Ann. ICRP 37 (2–4)....

R. C. Whiriskey: Nothing to disclose G. C. Colleran: Nothing to disclose P. V. Kavanagh: Nothing to disclose P. Cunningham: Nothing to disclose R. Ennis: Nothing to disclose P. Gilligan: Nothing to disclose