Purpose or learning objective
Purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge of physicians and radiographers regarding radiation protection of staff and patients in interventional procedures.
Methods or background
A questionnaire based on recommendations issued by professional societies in the field of interventional radiology and cardiology [1,2] as well as by international organisations [3] was developed and disseminated among physicians and radiographers who perform interventional procedures at four university hospitals. The questionnaire contained 42 questions which were related to individual exposure monitoring, means of staff and patient radiation protection and previous ways of acquiring the knowledge regarding radiation protection. At the same time, the questionnaire gave the participant of the survey the opportunity to...
Results or findings
The questionnaire was answered by 80 professionals from four university hospitals, 51% of them were physicians and 49% radiographers. 82% of radiographers were involved in interventional radiology procedures and 18% in interventional cardiology procedures, while 45% of physicians were involved in interventional radiology procedures, 24% in interventional cardiology procedures and 31% were vascular surgeons. Distribution of surveyees regarding years of experience as a member of the interventional team is given in Figure 1.
[Fig 1]
51% of surveyees were acquainted with equivalent dose limit for...
Conclusion
Quality of education on radiation protection of both, physicians and radiographers involved in interventional procedures should be improved and availability of medical physicist in hospitals where those procedures are performed should be encouraged. Special emphasis should be on education in case of those specialities whose main focus is not on radiology and/or cardiology.
References
[1] Kumar G and Rab S T 2016 Radiation safety for the interventional cardiologist–a practical approach to protecting ourselves from the dangers of ionizing radiation Retrieved from https//www. acc. org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2015/12/31/10/12/radiation-safety-for-theinterventional-cardiologist
[2] Miller D L, Vañó E, Bartal G, Balter S, Dixon R, Padovani R, Schueler B, Cardella J F and De Baère T 2010 Occupational radiation protection in interventional radiology: a joint guideline of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe and the Society of Interventional Radiology Cardiovasc. Intervent. Radiol. 33 230–9
[3] ICRP...
Personal information and conflict of interest
I. Kralik:
Nothing to disclose
B. Brkljačić:
Nothing to disclose
A. Buinac:
Nothing to disclose
M. Justić:
Nothing to disclose
K. Ružić:
Nothing to disclose
J. Popić:
Nothing to disclose
G. Ivanac:
Nothing to disclose
T. Turk:
Nothing to disclose
D. Faj:
Nothing to disclose