Assessment of Physicians’ Knowledge on Ionizing Radiation Exposure During Pediatric Computed Tomography: Case of Hassan II Hospital Center of Agadir

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to explore the physician’s knowledge on patient radiation exposure during pediatric Computed Tomography (CT). A questionnaire from various questions was developed during this work. The questions have focusing on prescribers’ practices and their knowledge of patient radiation protection. It was distributed and completed by 44 doctors of various medical specialties in the regional hospital center of Agadir. Forty-four questionnaires survey were analyzed. Only 2% of our prescribers have correctly estimated the delivered dose during a standard thoracic radiological examination for a 1 year old child. While 84% of our physicians have underrated the dose delivered during a thoracic CT scan for a 5-year-old child. One for five prescribers assigns a dose of irradiation higher than 0.01 mSv during a thoracic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam for child. Finally, 34% of physicians choose CT scan (not indicated) as the first choice for abdomino-pelvic mass and epileptic syndromes.