Abstract
PurposeRadiation safety and protection are a key component of fluoroscopy-guided interventions. We hypothesize that providing weekly personal dose feedback will increase radiation awareness and ultimately will lead to optimized behavior. Therefore, we designed and implemented a personalized feedback of procedure and personal doses for medical staff involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions.Materials and MethodsMedical staff (physicians and technicians, n = 27) involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions were equipped with electronic personal dose meters (PDMs). Procedure dose data including the dose area product and effective doses from PDMs were prospectively monitored for each consecutive procedure over an 8-month period (n = 1082). A personalized feedback form was designed displaying for each staff individually the personal dose per procedure, as well as relative and cumulative doses. This study consisted of two phases: (1) 1–5th months: Staff did not receive feedback (n = 701) and (2) 6–8th months: Staff received weekly individual dose feedback (n = 381). An anonymous evaluation was performed on the feedback and occupational dose.ResultsPersonalized feedback was scored valuable by 76% of the staff and increased radiation dose awareness for 71%. 57 and 52% reported an increased feeling of occupational safety and changing their behavior because of personalized feedback, respectively. For technicians, the normalized dose was significantly lower in the feedback phase compared to the prefeedback phase: [median (IQR) normalized dose (phase 1) 0.12 (0.04–0.50) µSv/Gy cm2 versus (phase 2) 0.08 (0.02–0.24) µSv/Gy cm2, p = 0.002].ConclusionPersonalized dose feedback increases radiation awareness and safety and can be provided to staff involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions.
Highlights
Radiation safety and protection of patients and medical staff are a key component of medical quality management
As patients are exposed to the primary X-ray beam, they receive a higher dose during a particular procedure in comparison with physicians and other medical staff members whose exposure mainly originates from radiation scattered from the patient [4,5,6]
For the first technician (FT), the normalized dose was significantly lower in the feedback phase compared to the prefeedback phase (median (IQR) relative normalized first technicians (FT) dose: 0.12 (0.04–0.50) versus 0.08 (0.02–0.24) lSv/Gy cm2, p = 0.002)
Summary
Radiation safety and protection of patients and medical staff are a key component of medical quality management. Treatment led to an increase in image-guided interventions [1] Many of these interventions are performed by radiologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons and other physicians under fluoroscopy guidance, which carries the risk of radiation-induced tissue reactions and stochastic effects for both patients and health-care professionals [2, 3]. We hypothesize that providing medical staff with short term, i.e., weekly, personal feedback, containing both patient and staff doses, will increase awareness and leads to optimized behavior. As such, it may be considered as a new approach to dose optimization for both patients and staff members. Aim of the study was to design, implement and assess a personalized feedback of patient and staff doses for medical staff involved in fluoroscopy-guided interventions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
