Abstract
BackgroundDiagnostic investigations using radiation have become a critical feature of medical practice in recent times. However, the possibility of doctors’ underestimation of risks of over-exposure of patients to diagnostic radiation still warrants further evaluation.ObjectivesTo investigate doctors’ awareness of diagnostic radiation exposure at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, South Africa.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, analytical investigation of the awareness of doctors about radiation exposure in diagnostic radiology investigations. A cluster sampling technique was employed to recruit 217 participants. Consent and approval of the participants were sought and obtained before questionnaire administration during departmental meetings between October 2017 and March 2018.ResultsOf the participants, 80% had no formal training on radiation exposure and 33.8% of them correctly estimated natural background radiation. Correct estimates of the effective dose from a single-view abdominal X-ray (AXR) were expressed by 7.5%, quantity of radiation of a single-phase computed tomography (CT) abdomen by 30.3% and dosage from a two-view unilateral mammogram by 29.1% of the participants. More than 75% of participants agreed that children are more sensitive to radiation, but only 10.5% suggested medical termination of pregnancy for a woman who had CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast. Dosage and risk of inducing fatal cancer from common but more complex imaging procedures were poorly understood. Only the doctors of the radiology department showed a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) association with regards to their radiation awareness.ConclusionBecause of the high rate of poor awareness of radiation risks observed in this study, it is important to initiate, early in the medical curriculum for medical students, the need for a rotation in the Department of Radiology, similar to such rotations in other medical specialties.
Highlights
Medical diagnostic radiation has been the fastest growing source of human exposure to ionising radiation, with the collective radiation increased by a factor of six in the last two to three decades.[1]
The investigations into medical doctors’ awareness of exposure to diagnostic radiation showed that more than 80% had not had any formal training on radiation exposure
The comparison of the radiation dose from a chest X-ray (CXR) to the annual dose a person receives from background radiation (1/10) was only correctly estimated by 20.6%, while the quantity of radiation a patient absorbs during a CXR (0.02 mSv) was only correctly estimated by 14.7% of respondents
Summary
Medical diagnostic radiation has been the fastest growing source of human exposure to ionising radiation, with the collective radiation increased by a factor of six in the last two to three decades.[1]. Diagnostic investigations such as X-rays or mammograms are used to diagnose and treat a medical condition even before it is clinically apparent.[4]. This unbridled exposure to ionising radiation has been scientifically proven to cause damage to healthy tissues, such as skin burns and radiation sickness, at high exposures (deterministic effects) and raises the risks of cancers and genetic damages (stochastic effects) at low exposures.[5] errors in the radiation exposures that occur during diagnostic investigations usually go unrecognised or unreported and may be associated with high patient morbidity. The possibility of doctors’ underestimation of risks of over-exposure of patients to diagnostic radiation still warrants further evaluation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
