Web based national patient dose survey in diagnostic and interventional radiology. Preliminary results and analysis of survey performance

Abstract

Introduction According to the Bulgarian regulation for radiation protection of medical exposure, the National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection (NCRRP) is responsible for performing national dose surveys in diagnostic and interventional radiology and nuclear medicine and for establishing of national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs). Purpose In the period 2014–15 NCRRP have developed web based platform with main goal to establish new national DRLs by collecting data from most of the facilities in the country. Materials and methods In collaboration with software company centralized database was developed. The database can be accessed via internet browser, allowing pre-registered user remote sending of survey data. Electronic questionnaires with the necessary technical and dosimetric information were prepared. Short but clear manuals are also included to guide users, and to minimize errors. Since many of the X-ray systems in Bulgaria are still analogue, the platform at this stage also allows manually enter patient data by the user. Results Users from Bulgarian hospitals was trained and encouraged to enter data. During the test period more than 300 individual patient data sets, from 8 clinical departments, were sent in the database of platform. Currently medical physicists and radiographers from more than 20 clinical departments collect and enter data in the platform. Conclusion Patient data gathered from number of hospitals and different type of examination was used to test the platform. Every hospital or clinical department participated in the survey can establish the local DRLs and initiate optimization of their own protocol.