Abstract
This study determined the correlation between radiation doses absorbed by health care workers and dose area product meter (DAP) measurements at Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein. The DAP is an instrument which accurately measures the radiation emitted from the source. The study included the interventional radiologists, radiographers and nurses associated with radiological intervention procedures during the period 1 August 2003 - 31 August 2003. The amount of radiation produced during every procedure was measured by a dose area product meter (DAP) and routinely recorded. The absorbed doses received by health care workers were measured using a thermoluminescent dose meter (TLD). The TLDs were analysed and recorded at the end of each week. Health care workers wore TLDs on the following areas: forehead, thyroid (attached under thyroid guard), and abdomen (worn under lead jacket). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.9, p = 0.0374) was found between the radiographers’ head TLD and DAP meter readings. All other correlations between TLD and DAP readings were not statistically significant. Strong positive correlations were found between the TLD readings of the radiologists’ and nurses’ bodies, the nurses’ and radiographers’ bodies and the radiologists’ and the radiographers’ bodies, all of which were statistically significant.
Highlights
Interventional radiology is often the preferred treatment procedure, but is associated with a certain amount of radiation to the health care workers performing the procedure.[1]
This study determined the correlation between radiation doses absorbed by health care workers and dose area product meter (DAP) measurements at Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein
The following Spearman’s rank correlations were calculated: DAP meter readings and thermoluminescent dose meter (TLD) meter reading for each health care worker’s body area; and TLD head, thyroid and body readings compared between radiologist, nurse and radiographer
Summary
Interventional radiology is often the preferred treatment procedure, but is associated with a certain amount of radiation to the health care workers performing the procedure.[1]. Procedure optimisation and use and availability of protective measures all contribute to decreasing radiation doses received by health care workers.[3]. Radiologists receive larger radiation doses during abdominal studies than during cerebral studies, even though the average fluoroscopic time is longer for cerebral angiography This may be because of the increased diffraction from the patient tissue and the shorter distance between the radiologist and the X-ray tube during abdominal studies. Health care workers wear lead jackets and the radiation monitor is often placed beneath the jacket. Radiosensitive areas such as the eyes, thyroid and hands are not protected against radiation and are seldom monitored. This study determined the correlation between radiation doses absorbed by health care workers and DAP measurements at Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein. Health care workers’ radiation exposure could be derived from the DAP readings
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