Purpose or learning objective
Directive 2013/59/Euratom (1) has been partially transposed into Spanish Legislation Royal Decree 601/2019 (2), on justification and optimization of the use of ionizing radiation in radiation protection of persons subjected to medical exposure. This Decree highlights the importance of informing patients subjected to medical exposures about radiation protection aspects.
There is a clear lack of information about ionizing radiation that causes excessive concern for both patients subjected to diagnostic procedures with X-rays, and also for their carers, who subject themselves to such exposure voluntarily in...
Methods or background
The Medical Physics and Radiological Protection Department of Hospital Universitario La Princesa (Madrid, Spain) has prepared some basic information for patients and carers, in the form of a leaflet and a poster. First, an information leaflet or triptych, intended to be available at patient waiting rooms of radiology departments. Then, a poster has been prepared in order to implement these regulations, especially to place at pediatric radiology departments. The information has been prepared taking into account both regulatory texts and some basic information provided to...
Results or findings
The most relevant aspects of the information needed by patients and carers in diagnostic procedures has been studied and a leaflet has been created to answer possible concerns about these procedures. Figures 1 and 2 show back and front of this leaflet. The information is intended to be easily understandable, presented as questions that could be asked by the interested persons, with images and a simple and direct vocabulary to be more understandable, and therefore reach more public.
[Fig 1]
[Fig 2]
30 people have...
Conclusion
The information provided is well received by patients and carers and the information provided both basic knowledge about the procedure and reassurance.
It is essential that both patients and carers who are subjected to medical exposures receive truthful information to ensure radiological protection. This information should be simple, clear and easily accessible to be understood by the general public.
References
Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionizing radiation, and repealing Directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom. :73.
Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social. Real Decreto 601/2019, de 18 de octubre, sobre justificación y optimización del uso de las radiaciones ionizantes para la protección radiológica de las personas con ocasión de exposiciones médicas. [Internet]. 2019. Disponible en: https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2019/10/18/601.
https://rpop.iaea.org/RPOP/RPoP/Content-es/InformationFor/Patients/information-public/index.htm
www.sefm.es
Personal information and conflict of interest
P. Botella Faus:
Nothing to disclose
P. García Castañón:
Nothing to disclose
S. HONORATO HERNANDEZ:
Nothing to disclose
P. Rodríguez Carnero:
Nothing to disclose
C. PRIETO MARTIN:
Nothing to disclose